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Homocysteine and post-angioplasty restenosis

P Ambrosi1

  • 1Service de Cardiologie B, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France. pambrosi@ap-hm.fr

Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases : NMCD
|February 26, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia may be a weak risk factor for restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Folic acid may lower this risk, but further studies are needed before routine recommendation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Hyperhomocysteinemia is linked to arterial neointimal proliferation in various conditions.
  • Animal models show homocysteine exacerbates neointimal proliferation after injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effect of moderate hyperhomocysteinemia on restenosis after coronary angioplasty.
  • To evaluate the role of homocysteine in restenosis and the potential benefit of folic acid.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on hyperhomocysteinemia and restenosis.
  • Analysis of findings from animal models and human clinical trials.

Main Results:

  • Restenosis after coronary angioplasty is inconsistently associated with hyperhomocysteinemia in humans.
  • A clinical trial indicated folic acid reduces homocysteinemia and restenosis risk.

Conclusions:

  • Hyperhomocysteinemia is likely a weak risk factor for coronary restenosis post-angioplasty.
  • The causative role of homocysteine in restenosis remains unclear.
  • More research on restenosis prevention after coronary stenting is required before recommending routine folic acid administration.
Abstract

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