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Plasma homocysteine is elevated in COPD patients and is related to COPD severity

Terence A R Seemungal1, Johanna Cho Fook Lun, Gershwin Davis

  • 1Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. tseemungal@aol.com

International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
|January 31, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Total plasma homocysteine (tHCY) is elevated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to controls. Higher tHCY levels correlate with COPD severity and inflammation markers like serum C-reactive protein (sCRP).

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Risk Factors
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHCY) are recognized cardiac disease risk factors.
  • Limited research exists on plasma homocysteine levels specifically within COPD patient populations.
  • This study investigated the hypothesis that COPD patients exhibit higher plasma homocysteine levels than control subjects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if total plasma homocysteine (tHCY) levels are elevated in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to controls.
  • To explore the relationship between tHCY levels, COPD severity, inflammation markers, and other clinical parameters.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 29 COPD outpatients and 25 asymptomatic controls (age >55) was studied.
  • Measurements included pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC), St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, plasma homocysteine (tHCY), and serum C-reactive protein (sCRP).

Main Results:

  • COPD patients demonstrated significantly lower FEV1 and FEV1% predicted compared to controls.
  • Median tHCY levels were significantly higher in COPD patients (10.96 micromol/l) than in controls (8.22 micromol/l).
  • Elevated tHCY was associated with smokers, lower FEV1%, male gender, higher SGRQ scores, and elevated sCRP; it was independently related to sCRP, male gender, and COPD presence.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma homocysteine is significantly elevated in COPD patients relative to age- and sex-matched controls.
  • Elevated tHCY in COPD is associated with increased systemic inflammation (sCRP) and disease severity.
  • These findings suggest a potential role for homocysteine as a biomarker or contributing factor in COPD-related cardiovascular risk.
Abstract

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