Methylarginines have been shown to interfere with NO (nitric oxide) formation by inhibiting NOS (NO synthase)-ADMA (asymmetric dimethylarginine) and cellular L-arginine uptake into the cell [ADMA and SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine)]. In a recent study, elevation of SDMA was related to long-term mortality in patients recruited 30 days after a stroke event. In the present study, we aimed at investigating the association of SDMA and adverse clinical outcome in the early phase (first 30 days) after acute ischaemic stroke. A total of 137 patients were recruited immediately upon admission to the emergency unit with an acute ischaemic stroke. Plasma levels of methylarginines were determined by a validated LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem MS) method. Patients were prospectively followed for 30 days. A total of 25 patients (18.2%) experienced the primary composite endpoint [death, recurrent stroke, MI (myocardial infarction) and rehospitalization]. SDMA plasma levels were significantly higher in stroke patients compared with patients without event (0.89 ± 0.80 compared with 0.51 ± 0.24 ?mol/l; P
