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Homocysteine in Chronic Heart Failure.
Clinical Laboratory
|November 12, 2015
Summary
Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is common in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and predicts mortality. Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels indicate a higher risk of death within five years.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is a known cardiovascular disease risk factor.
- Homocysteine (Hcy) generates reactive oxygen species, contributing to oxidative stress and chronic heart failure (CHF) progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive value of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
- To investigate the relationship between Hcy levels and other clinical markers in CHF patients.
Main Methods:
- 134 adult CHF patients underwent echocardiography, 6-min walk test, and VO(2max) determination.
- Serum Hcy levels and other markers were measured, with clinical follow-up at five years.
Main Results:
- CHF patients exhibited markedly elevated Hcy levels (18.4 ± 7.83 μmol/L) compared to controls (12.8 ± 3.14 μmol/L).
- Hcy correlated negatively with VO(2max) and positively with BNP. Patients with HHcy > 15 μmol/L had significantly lower 5-year survival rates (35% vs. 56%).
- HHcy and hs-CRP were identified as independent predictors of 5-year mortality.
Conclusions:
- HHcy is prevalent in CHF patients and significantly associated with increased 5-year mortality risk.
- Homocysteine (Hcy) can serve as an additional clinical risk marker for CHF patients, aiding in risk stratification and management.
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