Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2026

The Antihypertensive Effects and Mechanisms of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction in Rats with H-Type Hypertension
05:57

The Antihypertensive Effects and Mechanisms of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction in Rats with H-Type Hypertension

Published on: May 17, 2024

The association between hyperhomocysteinemia and ischemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Lorenzo Loffredo1, Francesco Violi, Filippo Luca Fimognari

  • 1Divisione IV Clinica Medica, Policlinico Umberto I, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

Haematologica
|September 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is an independent predictor of ischemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. This finding highlights tHcy as a significant risk factor for stroke in this patient population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation is a common condition associated with a high risk of ischemic stroke.
  • Elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is a known independent predictor of stroke.
  • The predictive value of tHcy for stroke in atrial fibrillation patients remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether elevated tHcy is an independent predictor of cardio-embolic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
  • To assess the association between tHcy levels and ischemic stroke risk in this specific patient group.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 163 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation was studied.
  • Fasting tHcy levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  • Ischemic stroke history was documented, and multivariate analysis was performed adjusting for various risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Increased total homocysteine (tHcy) and fibrinogen levels were independently associated with ischemic stroke.
  • For every 1 micromol/L increase in tHcy, the odds of ischemic stroke increased by 5.6% (OR: 1.056).
  • Patients in the highest quartile of tHcy had a 2.73-fold increased probability of ischemic stroke compared to those in the lowest quartile.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated fasting tHcy levels are independently associated with a history of ischemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
  • These findings suggest that tHcy is a significant and independent risk factor for stroke in this population.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:29

Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

A hemorrhagic stroke develops when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to escape into the surrounding brain tissue, as in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or into the subarachnoid space, as in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because the skull is a rigid compartment, the sudden presence of extravascular blood rapidly increases intracranial pressure and compresses adjacent neural structures, leading to immediate tissue injury and impaired cerebral perfusion.Mass Effect and Primary...
Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview01:17

Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview

Ischemic heart disease occurs when the heart's blood supply dwindles, causing an ominous lack of oxygen and nutrients. This deficiency, stemming from reduced or obstructed blood flow, spells danger, leading to heart muscle damage and dysfunction.
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and narrowing...
Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction01:17

Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction

A hemorrhagic stroke is an acute neurological event that occurs when a weakened cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to accumulate within or around the brain. The sudden release of blood forms a focal hematoma that increases intracranial pressure, displaces neural tissue, and can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid pathways. These effects may be compounded by intraventricular extension of the hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or compression of adjacent structures, all of which contribute to...
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:15

Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...
Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction01:15

Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction

Ischemic stroke is an acute cerebrovascular condition in which blood flow to a brain region is suddenly interrupted, leading to tissue infarction. Neurons depend on continuous oxygen and glucose supply, so even brief reductions in perfusion cause energy failure, ionic imbalance, and irreversible injury. Ischemic strokes are classified into thrombotic and embolic types based on their underlying mechanisms.Thrombotic MechanismsThrombotic stroke develops when a clot forms within a cerebral artery.
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...