Introduction: Symmetrical and Asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine were previously discovered in urine, the present study explored the link between acute kidney injury (AKI) and modulation in the level of these biomarkers.

Methods: Ninety volunteers were recruited in the current study, sixty of them were dialysis-dependent AKI patients, their ages ranged between 29-70 years, 13 were diabetic and 47 were non-diabetics patients. Thirty healthy subjects were recruited as a control group. Blood urea, serum creatinine, uric acid, glucose, lipid profile, albumin, hemoglobin, levels were measured using an automated analyzer (SK3002b). Asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethyl-L-arginine (SDMA) serum concentrations were measured using ELISA.

Results: The findings of the current study demonstrated a significant decrease in hemoglobin and serum albumin levels alongside an increase in the serum creatinine, uric acid, and serum triglyceride (TG) in the patients when compared to the apparently healthy controls. Serum concentrations of ADMA and SDMA were significantly lower in healthy controls compared to the patients.

Conclusion: These data confirm the assumption which assumes that both, ADMA and SDMA serum levels are sensitive markers of reduced renal function and serum SDMA is more sensitive than ADMA in dialysis-dependent AKI patients.

Keywords: symmetric dimethyl-L-arginine; biomarker; dialysis; acute kidney injury; asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine; dimethyl-L-arginine