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A Strategy for Sensitive, Large Scale Quantitative Metabolomics
14:18

A Strategy for Sensitive, Large Scale Quantitative Metabolomics

Published on: May 27, 2014

Homocysteine

Bradley A Maron1, Joseph Loscalzo

  • 1Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Clinics in Laboratory Medicine
|August 30, 2006
PubMed

Insights

High homocysteine levels are linked to vascular diseases like heart and stroke. Accurate lab testing is crucial for predicting risk, but universal guidelines for homocysteine measurement are still needed.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Clinical Chemistry

Background:

  • Elevated homocysteine levels are recognized as a significant risk factor for various vascular diseases.
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia is specifically implicated in coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease.
  • Accurate detection and quantification of homocysteine are essential for effective cardiovascular risk prediction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolution of laboratory strategies for homocysteine detection and quantification.
  • To highlight the need for improved accuracy in risk prediction for vascular diseases.
  • To address the lack of universal guidelines for circulating homocysteine determination.

Main Methods:

  • Review of laboratory-based strategies for homocysteine measurement.
  • Analysis of technological advancements in homocysteine quantification over the past two decades.
  • Assessment of the current landscape of homocysteine determination guidelines.

Main Results:

  • Homocysteine is a validated risk factor for multiple vascular pathologies.
  • Laboratory detection and quantification methods have advanced significantly in precision.
  • Despite technological progress, universal guidelines for homocysteine measurement are absent.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate measurement of homocysteine is vital for vascular disease risk assessment.
  • Continued development in analytical techniques enhances precision but does not resolve guideline discrepancies.
  • The absence of universal guidelines poses challenges for consistent clinical application and risk stratification.

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