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Clin. Cardiol. 24, 463466 (2001)
Arnon Blum, M.D., Sacha Lupovitch, Ph.D.,* Khaled Khazim, M.D., Aviva Peleg, M.Sc.,* Marina Gumanovsky, M.D., Shay Yeganeh, M.D., Subchi Jawabreh, M.D.
Departments of Internal Medicine and *Clinical Chemistry, Poria Hospital, Lower Galilee, and The Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
Summary
Background: Abundant epidemiological evidence has demonstrated that the presence of mild to moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in the coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vasculature, and for vascular disease, including coronary disease. It has been demonstrated that plasma total homocysteine level is a strong predictor of mortality in patients with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease.
Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to determine the extent of homocysteine levels in patients without documented coronary artery disease, but with at least one risk factor for atherosclerosis.
Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected prospectively from 160 consecutive patients (50 women and 110 men, mean age 65 ± 7 years) who had at least one risk factor for atherosclerosis, but had no documented coronary artery disease. Homocysteine levels were measured by an immunoassay method.
Results: Of the patients studied, 78 (48.75%) with at least one risk factor for atherosclerosis had high homocysteine levels; 62 patients had mild hyperhomocysteinemia (1530 µmol/l); and 16 patients had moderate hyperhomocysteinemia (30100 µmol/l).
Conclusions: Our data suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia is highly prevalent in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis. Homocysteine level (an independent convertible risk factor to atherosclerosis) should be measured routinely in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis and treated appropriately.
Key words: homocysteine, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease
Address for reprints:
Arnon Blum, M.D.
Director
Department of Internal Medicine
Poria Hospital
Lower Galilee
15208 Israel
Received: June 13, 2000
Accepted with revision: September 18, 2000