TY - JOUR T1 - Correlation of Biomarkers of Endothelium Dysfunction and Matrix Remodeling in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol DO - 10.3899/jrheum.080924 SP - jrheum.080924 AU - Sophie Blaise AU - Renke Maas AU - Candice Trocme AU - Ghainsom D. Kom AU - Matthieu Roustit AU - Patrick H. Carpentier AU - Jean-Luc Cracowski Y1 - 2009/04/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2009/03/29/jrheum.080924.abstract N2 - Objective Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem disease characterized by microvascular dysfunction and excessive fibrosis. However, the relationship between these 2 features remains unclear. Endothelial dysfunction can be assessed by quantifying plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Matrix remodeling can be assessed by quantifying serum tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). Both biomarkers are elevated in patients with SSc. Our objective was to test whether plasma ADMA is correlated with serum TIMP-1. Methods We enrolled 91 subjects, 39 patients with SSc, 28 patients with primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP), and 24 healthy volunteers. Plasma ADMA concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Serum TIMP-1 concentrations were determined by ELISA. Results Mean ADMA concentrations were higher in patients with SSc (0.68 μM ± 0.12) than in patients with primary RP or healthy volunteers (respectively, 0.56 μM ± 0.14 and 0.62 μM ± 0.12; p = 0.002). Median serum TIMP-1 concentrations were increased in patients with SSc compared to primary RP and healthy volunteers [12 (9–15), 11 (8–13), and 10 (7–13) nM, respectively; p = 0.05]. In the SSc group, we observed a statistically significant correlation between plasma ADMA and serum TIMP-1 (r = 0.34, p = 0.035). Conclusion These data are consistent with our hypothesis of an association of endothelial dysfunction and matrix remodeling in scleroderma spectrum disorders. ER -