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Updated: May 12, 2026

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
Published on: February 7, 2015
Descriptive study of possible link between cardioankle vascular index and homocysteine in vascular-related diseases
Hongyu Wang1, Jinbo Liu, Qi Wang
1Department of Vascular Medicine, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
Insights
Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels correlate with increased arterial stiffness, as measured by the cardioankle vascular index (CAVI). This finding highlights Hcy as a significant factor in vascular health, independent of blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomarkers of Vascular Disease
- Arterial Stiffness Measurement
Background:
- Homocysteine (Hcy) is an established risk factor for vascular diseases.
- Cardioankle vascular index (CAVI) is a novel measure of arterial stiffness, independent of immediate blood pressure.
- Understanding the relationship between Hcy and arterial stiffness is crucial for vascular disease risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between homocysteine (Hcy) levels and cardioankle vascular index (CAVI).
- To explore this relationship in patients with and without vascular-related diseases.
- To identify independent predictors of arterial stiffness.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive research design.
- Inclusion of 88 patients with or without hypertension, coronary artery disease, or arteriosclerosis obliterans.
- Measurement of CAVI, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV), and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (CR-PWV).
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between Hcy and CAVI, CF-PWV, and CR-PWV across all participants.
- Patients with vascular diseases exhibited higher Hcy levels and increased CAVI, CF-PWV, and CR-PWV compared to those without.
- Homocysteine, body mass index (BMI), and age were identified as independent factors associated with CAVI.
Conclusions:
- Cardioankle vascular index (CAVI) demonstrates a positive correlation with homocysteine (Hcy) levels in individuals with vascular-related diseases.
- Homocysteine is a significant independent predictor of arterial stiffness.
- These findings underscore the importance of monitoring Hcy levels for assessing vascular health.
Objectives:
Cardioankle vascular index (CAVI) is a new index of arterial stiffness independent of immediate blood pressure. Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for vascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Hcy and CAVI in the vascular-related diseases.
Design:
Descriptive research.
Participants:
88 patients (M/F 46/42) with or without hypertension, coronary artery disease or arteriosclerosis obliterans were enrolled to our study. They were divided into two groups according to the level of Hcy.
Methods:
CAVI, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (CR-PWV) were measured by VS-1000 and Complior apparatus.
Results:
There was significant correlation between Hcy and CF-PWV, CR-PWV, CAVI in the entire group (r=0.33, p=0.002; r=0.51, p<0.001; r=0.42, p<0.001, respectively). And there was significant correlation between Hcy and CF-PWV, CR-PWV, CAVI in the vascular-related disease group (r=0.23, p=0.048; r=0.51, p<0.001; r=0.392, p=0.001, respectively). The level of Hcy was significantly higher in patients with one or more vascular diseases than in patients without vascular diseases. The levels of CF-PWV, CR-PWV and CAVI were significantly higher in Hcy ≥15 μmol/l group than in Hcy <5 μmol/l group (13.7±3.0 vs 10.8±2.5, p < 0.001; 10.6±2.1 vs 9.2±1.6, p=0.001; 9.30±2.1 vs 7.79±2.1, p=0.001, respectively). Multiple linear regression showed that Hcy, body mass index (BMI) and age were independent associating factors of CAVI in the entire study group (β=0.421, p=0.001; β=-0.309, p=0.006; β=0.297, p=0.012, respectively). And Hcy, BMI and age were independent influencing factors of CAVI in the vascular-related disease group (β=0.434, p=0.001; β=-0.331, p=0.009; β=0.288, p=0.022, respectively).
Conclusions:
CAVI was positively correlated with Hcy in the vascular-related diseases.
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