Association between hyperhomocysteinemia and primary pulmonary hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
This case-control study was conducted to test the hypothesis that fasting homocysteine levels are higher in PPH patients than in healthy controls.


METHODS
Levels of plasma total homocysteine, serum folate, vitamin B-12, and serum creatinine in 18 consecutive patients with PPH were compared with data from 36 age- and sex-matched controls.


RESULTS
Eight of the 18 patients (44.4%) and three of the 36 controls (8.3%) had elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels (> or = 15 mol/l, odds ratio 8.8; 95% CI: 2.0-39.6; P = 0.005). There was an inverse correlation between tHcy levels and creatinine clearance in patients with PPH (P = 0.036).


CONCLUSIONS
PPH patients are significantly more likely to have hyperhomocysteinemia, and higher mean plasma total homocysteine levels than in controls. Plasma total homocysteine may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of PPH.
Arroliga
Alejandro C
AC
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue-G62, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. arrolia@ccf.org
Sandur
Sunder
S
Jacobsen
Donald W
DW
Tewari
Sanjiv
S
Mustafa
Masroor
M
Mascha
Edward J
EJ
Robinson
Killian
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D014805:Vitamin B 12