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Published on: June 3, 2021
Lack of association between total serum homocysteine and extracranial cerebral flow
Yu Sun1, Chien-Jung Lu, Rong-Chi Chen
1Department of Neurology, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Insights
This study found no significant link between homocysteine (Hcy) levels and blood flow dynamics in the extracranial cerebral arteries of healthy adults. Hemodynamic parameters like velocity and resistance were not consistently associated with Hcy concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Neurovascular hemodynamics
- Cerebrovascular physiology
- Biomarkers of vascular health
Background:
- Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) is linked to impaired coronary blood flow.
- The relationship between Hcy and cerebral artery hemodynamics in healthy individuals remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum homocysteine levels and hemodynamic parameters in the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries.
- To determine if Hcy influences blood flow velocity, resistance, and volume in healthy adults.
Main Methods:
- 535 healthy adults underwent physical examination, duplex ultrasonography of extracranial arteries, and blood tests for homocysteine.
- Measured hemodynamic parameters included flow velocity, resistance, and volume.
- Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the association between Hcy and flow parameters.
Main Results:
- Higher Hcy levels showed a trend towards lower systolic velocity in the internal carotid and vertebral arteries, and lower vertebral artery resistance.
- However, no significant differences in mean flow velocity, resistance, or volume were observed across Hcy quartiles.
- Hcy levels, treated as a continuous variable, did not show a significant relationship with measured hemodynamic parameters.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find evidence supporting an association between homocysteine levels and the hemodynamic status of extracranial cerebral arteries in healthy individuals.
- Further research may be needed to explore potential indirect or complex relationships.
Background/Purpose:
High homocysteine (Hcy) concentration is associated with slow coronary flow. This study examined the association between Hcy and hemodynamic status in the extracranial cerebral arteries in healthy individuals.
Methods:
A total of 535 healthy adults underwent physical examination and duplex ultrasonography of the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries, and blood laboratory tests, including biochemistry and serum total Hcy. Flow hemodynamic parameters including velocity, resistance, and volume of the carotid and vertebral arteries were measured. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the association between Hcy and the flow parameters.
Results:
Participants with higher Hcy were more likely to have a lower systolic velocity of the internal carotid artery (p = 0.01) and vertebral artery (p < 0.001), and lower resistance of the vertebral artery (p = 0.004). However, the multiple-adjusted means of the flow velocity, resistance, and flow volume of the carotid or vertebral artery were not significantly different across quartiles of Hcy. When Hcy was treated as a continuous variable, there was still no significant relationship between Hcy levels and the aforementioned hemodynamic status.
Conclusion:
Our results did not support the hypothesis that the levels of Hcy are associated with the flow velocity, resistance, and volume of the extracranial cerebral artery in healthy individuals.
