Hyperhomocysteinaemia and coronary artery disease in the Turkish population.
OBJECTIVE
Many studies have demonstrated a strong association between elevated plasma total homocysteine (Hcy) levels and vascular disease. The objective of this study was to examine the relation between homocysteine levels and coronary artery disease in Turkish patients.


RESULTS
In this study plasma homocysteine levels were measured in control and patient groups. A significant coronary artery lesion was defined as a stenosis of > or = 70% as shown by coronary angiography and determined by on-line quantitative measurements; treatment was by coronary angioplasty. Total plasma Hcy level was measured before the coronary intervention. Plasma homocysteine levels were measured by an HPLC method in patients with a definite diagnosis of coronary artery disease and compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Patients with coronary artery disease had significantly higher mean homocysteine concentrations than control subjects (geometric mean +/- 95% CI: 12.5 +/- 1.1 micromol/l vs. 8.60 +/- 1.07 micromol/l, p<0.001). Eighty-three (59%) members of the patient group and 14 (21%) members of the control group had plasma homocysteine concentrations above the 11.3 micromol/l, which represents the concentration which includes the uppermost quintile of the control group distribution (odds ratio 4.35, 95% CI; 2.1-8.94).


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study indicate that high plasma levels of homocysteine in Turkish subjects are associated with coronary artery disease. Our data suggest that focusing public health initiatives on this issue may reduce the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the Turkish population.
Sipahi
Emine
E
Duzen Laboratories Group, Ankara, Turkey. eminesipahi@hotmail.com
Taskin
Gülveren
G
Kumbasar
Deniz
D
Halloran
Mitch
M
Yildirimkaya
Metin
M
Nadirler
Fatih
F
Yildirir
Aylin
A
Berkalp
Berkten
B
Laleli
Yahya
Y
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology