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Updated: Oct 18, 2026
Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
[Plasma homocysteine is not a predictive factor of restenosis after coronary angioplasty]
C Benoit1, A Furber, A Le Bouil
1Service de cardiologie, centre hospitalier universitaire d'Angers.
Insights
High homocysteine levels do not predict coronary restenosis after angioplasty. This study found no significant difference in homocysteine levels between patients with and without restenosis, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Hyper-homocysteinaemia is a known cardiovascular risk factor.
- Histological similarities exist between post-angioplasty coronary restenosis and severe hyper-homocysteinaemia.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the predictive value of elevated plasma homocysteine levels for coronary restenosis following angioplasty.
Summary:
- A 6-month follow-up study of 222 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty assessed coronary restenosis using coronary angiography and myocardial scintigraphy.
- No significant differences in plasma homocysteine levels were found between patients who developed restenosis and those who did not.
Impact:
- Plasma homocysteine levels do not appear to be a reliable predictor of post-angioplasty coronary restenosis.
- This finding may influence future risk stratification and treatment strategies for patients undergoing coronary angioplasty.
Abstract:
Hyper-homocysteinaemia is a cardiovascular risk factor. In parallel, anatomopathological studies of post-angioplasty coronary restenosis show histological appearances similar to those observed in patients with severe hyper-homocysteinaemia. Based on these histological observations, the authors tried to assess the predictive value of raised plasma homocysteine levels for coronary restenosis after angioplasty. Two hundred and twenty-two patients treated by coronary angioplasty were followed up clinically for 6 months. Thallium 201 myocardial scintigraphy was performed in 179 patients and coronary angiography in 74 patients. Seventy-nine patients had coronary restenosis diagnosed by coronary angiography in 55 cases, by myocardial scintigraphy in 23 cases and strongly suspected clinically in only one patient. No significant differences in homocysteine levels were observed between patients with multiple restenosis or requiring revascularisation, and those without restenosis and not requiring revascularisation. Plasma homocysteine does not therefore seem to be a predictive factor of post-angioplasty coronary restenosis.
