SDMA is a close relative of ADMA that the kidneys clear from the blood. Because it is removed almost entirely by kidney filtration, its level tracks how well the kidneys are filtering.
SDMA can rise before creatinine when kidney filtration starts to decline, and it is less affected by muscle mass. Read alongside eGFR and cystatin C it gives a fuller picture of kidney function, and elevated levels are also associated with cardiovascular risk.
Optimal SDMA (Symmetric Dimethylarginine): 0-0.55 µmol/L.
Typically re-tested every 26 weeks.