Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, inhibits NO synthesis and contributes to the pathogenesis of many human diseases. In adults, ADMA has been identified as a biomarker for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and cardiovascular risk. However, little attention is given to translating the adult experience into the pediatric clinical setting. In the current review, we summarize circulating and urinary ADMA reported thus far in clinical studies relating to kidney disease in children and adolescents, as well as systematize the knowledge on pathophysiological role of ADMA in the kidneys. The aim of this review is also to show the various analytical methods for measuring ADMA and the issues tht need to be addressed before transforming to clinical practice in pediatric medicine. The last task is to suggest that ADMA may not only be suitable as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker, but also a promising therapeutic strategy to treat pediatric kidney disease in the future.
Keywords: asymmetric dimethylarginine; biomarker; children; dimethylamine; dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase; kidney disease; nitric oxide; pediatric nephrology; protein arginine methyl transferase.