Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine are associated with neurotoxicity.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study is to investigate whether increased plasma homocysteine (tHcy) has an effect on the cerebral metabolic concentrations, reflecting neurotoxicity, measured with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS).


METHODS
One hundred and thirteen patients had a MRS investigation of the brain and the concentration of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline and creatine was measured and fasting plasma tHcy was assessed. We used linear regression models to investigate the association between tHcy and cerebral metabolic concentrations.


RESULTS
We found that tHcy is associated with cerebral NAA (B = -0.09 mmol/l (95% CI, -0.17 to -0.00)) and with creatine (B = -0.09 mmol/l (95% CI, -0.16 to -0.02)) per 1 micromol/l increase tHcy. Patients with a tHcy >/=14 micromol/l had a lower concentration cerebral of NAA (P < 0.05) and creatine (P < 0.01) compared with patients with a tHcy <14 micromol/l. No significant association was found for the cerebral choline.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated levels of tHcy were associated with low concentrations of cerebral NAA and creatine, independent of renal function or the presence of atherosclerotic disease. These preliminary results suggest that tHcy has a neurotoxic effect in vivo.
Bisschops
Robertus H C
RH
Department of Radiology E01.132, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van der Graaf
Yolanda
Y
Mali
Willem P Th M
WP
van der Grond
Jeroen
J
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine