Plasma homocysteine and severity of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis

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C M Tribouilloy1, M Peltier, M C Iannetta Peltier

  • 1Department of Cardiology, South Hospital, University of Picardie, Amiens, France.

Chest
|December 15, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with the severity of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. This finding highlights homocysteine

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Atherosclerosis Research
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

  • Plasma homocysteine is a known risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
  • Limited data exist on the association between homocysteine and thoracic aortic atherosclerosis severity.
  • Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) allows detailed assessment of the thoracic aorta.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether plasma homocysteine levels correlate with the presence and severity of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis.
  • To determine if homocysteine is an independent predictor of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, cross-sectional study conducted at a university hospital.
  • 82 valvular patients underwent TEE and assessment of risk factors.
  • Plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels were measured.

Main Results:

  • Homocysteine levels positively correlated with the severity score of thoracic atherosclerosis (r=0.48, p=0.0001).
  • Homocysteine levels also correlated with the grades of aortic intimal changes (p=0.0008).
  • Multivariate analysis confirmed homocysteine as an independent predictor of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis presence and severity.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma homocysteine level serves as a marker for the severity of thoracic atherosclerosis.
  • These findings underscore homocysteine's role in atherosclerotic lesions across major arteries.
Abstract

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