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Published on: October 12, 2017

Homocysteine in relation to C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in assessment of

W Herrmann1, R Obeid, U Hübner

  • 1Department of Clinical Chemisty, School of Medicine, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany. kchwher@uniklinik-saarland.de

Cellular and Molecular Biology (Noisy-Le-Grand, France)
|February 11, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Homocysteine (Hcy) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels predict coronary vascular disease (CVD) risk, especially when combined. Measuring Hcy alongside CRP or LDL-cholesterol can identify high-risk patients more effectively.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Coronary vascular disease (CVD) is a significant health concern, often affecting individuals without apparent risk factors.
  • Understanding novel biomarkers for CVD risk prediction is crucial for early intervention.
  • Homocysteine (Hcy), C-reactive protein (CRP), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol are implicated in cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the predictive value of homocysteine (Hcy) for coronary vascular disease (CVD).
  • To assess the combined predictive power of Hcy with C-reactive protein (CRP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol.
  • To explore ethnic variations in biomarker concentrations and CVD risk between German and Syrian populations.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study comparing patients with confirmed CVD and control individuals from German and Syrian populations.
  • Measurement of serum concentrations of homocysteine (Hcy), C-reactive protein (CRP), and LDL-cholesterol.
  • Statistical analysis to determine the association between biomarker levels and CVD, considering combined effects.

Main Results:

  • Patients with CVD exhibited significantly higher Hcy and CRP levels compared to controls in both ethnic groups.
  • Syrian patients showed higher LDL-cholesterol levels than Syrian controls.
  • Elevated Hcy or CRP concentrations were individually associated with increased CVD probability.
  • Combined elevated Hcy and CRP, or Hcy and LDL-cholesterol, markedly increased CVD risk in both populations.

Conclusions:

  • Homocysteine (Hcy) determination can enhance the predictive value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and LDL-cholesterol for coronary vascular disease (CVD).
  • Simultaneous measurement of these biomarkers is vital for identifying individuals at high risk for CVD.
  • These findings underscore the importance of a multi-marker approach in CVD risk assessment.

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