Homocysteine levels and coronary heart disease in Syria

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Published on: October 12, 2017

R Joubran1, M Asmi, A Busjahn

  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of the School of Pharmacy, Assad University Hospital, Damascus, Syria.

Journal of Cardiovascular Risk
|January 27, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Elevated homocysteine levels are a significant independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in Arab men, even after accounting for other factors. Fibrinogen also emerged as an important cardiovascular risk factor in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) and dyslipidemia are prevalent in Arab countries.
  • Understanding cardiovascular risk factors is crucial for this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of homocysteine as a cardiovascular risk factor in Arab men.
  • To assess the association between homocysteine levels and angiographically confirmed coronary heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study comparing 133 men with CAD to 130 age-matched asymptomatic controls.
  • Analysis included assessment of traditional risk factors, lipid profiles, fibrinogen, and homocysteine levels.

Main Results:

  • Men with CAD exhibited higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and homocysteine.
  • Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the CAD group (P < 0.05) and independently associated with CAD, even after adjusting for covariates (P < 0.006).
  • Fibrinogen and homocysteine levels correlated with the extent of coronary artery disease (number of vessels involved).

Conclusions:

  • Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in Arab men.
  • Fibrinogen concentrations are also identified as a significant risk factor in this population.
Abstract

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