Dimethylarginines and all cause mortality in patients with peripheral arterial disease

This study aims to evaluate for the first time if endogenous proteins called methyl-arginines present in the blood can act as biomarkers of mortality in patients with hardening of their leg arteries (peripheral arterial disease). These proteins inhibit the production of nitric oxide which regulates the stickiness of the blood and the appropriate functioning of the walls of blood vessels. Patients with peripheral arterial disease have abnormalities in their blood and blood vessels. The ability to identify high risk patients may allow more individual targeted therapy