Role of homocysteine for thromboembolic complication in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrilation.
Thromboembolism is the most important complication in patients with atrial fibrilation (AF). Homocysteine is a toxic amino acid that has been recently accepted as a risk factor for atherosclerosis and stroke. The aim of the present study is to show whether there is a relation between hyperhomocysteinemia and thromboembolic complications in patients with non-valvular AF. We admitted 38 patients with non-valvular AF. The patients were divided into two groups: group A (n = 20; mean age, 75.7 +/- 10.4 years; three males/17 females), and group B (n = 18; mean age, 68.0 +/- 10.6 years; 11 males/seven females). While group A consisted of the patients with AF and stroke, group B was composed of the patients with AF but without stroke. The patients having sinus rhythm (15 subjects) were used as the reference group to obtain the cut-off value. Homocysteine was measured by the immunoassay method. The means of the homocysteine levels were 12.4 +/- 3.3 micromol/l in group A, 8.3 +/- 2.3 micromol/l in group B and 9.3 +/- 1.8 micromol/l in the reference group. The cut-off value was 10.6 micromol/l. Group A had a statistically higher homocysteine level than not only group B, but also the reference group (P < 0.05). While 60% of group A (n = 12) had the elevated homocysteine level, the rate was only 22% for group B (n = 4). In conclusion, hyperhomocysteinemia may be one of the explanations for the increased rate of thromboembolic complications in older patients with AF.
Cingozbay
B Y
BY
GATA Military Medical Training Hospital, Cardiology Department, Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Turkey. b.y.cingozbay@superonline.com
Yiginer
O
O
Cebeci
B S
BS
Kardesoglu
E
E
Demiralp
E
E
Dincturk
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*
D006710:Homocysteine