Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging for Assessment of Spinal Cord Blood Flow in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: May 7, 2015
Homocysteine and hypertension in persons with spinal cord injury
1Spinal Cord Injury Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, CA 94304, USA.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional analysis of a convenience sample of locally recruited participants, including both patients and volunteers.
Objectives:
To determine whether there is an association between plasma homocysteine and hypertension in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Setting:
Spinal Cord Injury Service of the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Medical Center (California, United States of America).
Methods:
The incidence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and the presence of metabolic syndrome were determined in 168 individuals with SCI (mean age 50.2 +/- 12.8 years). Fasting lipids, insulin, glucose, plasma homocysteine, and anthropometric data was gathered for each subject.
Results:
Blood pressure values (P < 0.001) and mean arterial pressure (P < 0.05) increased with higher plasma homocysteine levels. Homocysteine values were also significantly greater among individuals with hypertension compared with those who were normotensive or prehypertensive (P < 0.0001). There was an inverse relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Plasma homocysteine levels are elevated in persons with SCI who have hypertension and inversely related to renal function, which suggests that renal dysfunction may be a link between homocysteine and hypertension in persons with SCI.
Sponsorship:
Funded by the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, Merit Review Grant #B2549R.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology

