SDMA test

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a methylated arginine amino acid. SDMA is derived from intranuclear methylation of L-arginine residues and is released into the cytoplasm after proteolysis. SDMA is correlating with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). On average, SDMA increases in chronic kidney disease (CKD) with 30 to 40% loss of kidney function. Creatinine, however, does not increase until 75% of kidney function is lost. SDMA is therefore an earlier diagnostic tool than Creatinine or Cystatin C.