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The incidence of hyperhomocysteinaemia in vascular patients

J I Spark1, P Laws, R Fitridge

  • 1Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Woodville 5011, Adelaide, Australia.

European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery : the Official Journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery
|October 9, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Hyperhomocysteinaemia is common in vascular patients, particularly those with rest pain or aortic aneurysms. Low vitamin B12 or folate levels do not cause this increased homocysteine.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

  • Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an emerging risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease.
  • The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia in vascular patient populations remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of hyperhomocysteinaemia in vascular patients.
  • To investigate the relationship between homocysteine levels, vitamin B12, folate, and lipid profiles.
  • To explore the correlation between the severity of vascular injury and homocysteine concentration.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited new vascular patients (peripheral and aneurysmal presentations).
  • Collected patient demographics, fasting lipid profiles, and homocysteine concentrations.
  • Assessed vitamin B12 and folate levels (plasma and red cell), with 60 age/sex-matched controls for comparison.

Main Results:

  • 126 patients (95 male, 31 female, median age 68) were recruited.
  • Elevated homocysteine, cholesterol, and lipid levels were observed in 33%, 47%, and 24% of patients, respectively.
  • Homocysteine was elevated in 27% of claudicants, 50% with rest pain, and 53% with aortic aneurysms; vitamin B12 and folate levels were normal.

Conclusions:

  • A high incidence of hyperhomocysteinaemia exists in vascular patients, notably higher in those with rest pain and abdominal aortic aneurysms.
  • Elevated homocysteine levels are prevalent in patients with severe vascular conditions.
  • Low folate or vitamin B12 concentrations are not the cause of elevated homocysteine in this cohort.
Abstract

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