Analysis of plasma homocysteine levels in patients with unstable angina.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of hyperhomocystinemia in patients with acute ischemic syndrome of the unstable angina type.


METHODS
We prospectively studied 46 patients (24 females) with unstable angina and 46 control patients (19 males), paired by sex and age, blinded to the laboratory data. Details of diets, smoking habits, medication used, body mass index, and the presence of hypertension and diabetes were recorded, as were plasma lipid and glucose levels, C-reactive protein, and lipoperoxidation in all participants. Patients with renal disease were excluded. Plasma homocysteine was estimated using high-pressure liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the group of patients with unstable angina (12.7+/-6.7 micromol/L) than in the control group (8.7+/-4.4 micromol/L) (p<0.05). Among males, homocystinemia was higher in the group with unstable angina than in the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (14.1+/-5.9 micromol/L versus 11.9+/-4.2 micromol/L). Among females, however, a statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 groups: 11.0+/-7.4 micromol/L versus 6.4+/-2.9 micromol/L (p<0.05) in the unstable angina and control groups, respectively. Approximately 24% of the patients had unstable angina at homocysteine levels above 15 micromol/L.


CONCLUSIONS
High homocysteine levels seem to be a relevant prevalent factor in the population with unstable angina, particularly among females.
Tavares
José Roberto
JR
Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil. jrtavares@directnet.com.br
D'Almeida
Vânia
V
Diniz
Daniela C
DC
Terzi
Carolina A
CA
Cruz
Edison N
EN
Stefanini
Edson
E
Andriollo
Adagmar
A
Paola
Angelo A V de
AA
Carvalho
Antonio C
AC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013577:Syndrome
D006710:Homocysteine