Plasma homocysteine and retinal artery occlusive disease: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have documented that elevated plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease. In a case-control study, we sought to determine whether elevated homocysteine (HCY) is a risk factor for retinal artery occlusive disease PATIENTS AND METHODS. Study subjects consisted of 20 patients (12 male, 8 female) (mean age, 55.8; range 42-70 years) with clinical and objective evidence of retinal vascular occlusive disease and 20 age-matched control subjects (9 males, 11 females) (mean age, 55.3 years; range 50-68 years). Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as a plasma HCY level >15 micromol/L by HPLC. We also measured concentrations of triglycerides, and total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol.


RESULTS
The mean plasma HCY level in the patient group was 21.23+/-9.53 micromol/L (range, 8.00-43.99 micromol/L) compared with 12.59+/-4.97 micromol/L (range, 6.38 to 22.88 micromol/L) in the control group (P<0.008). There was no correlation between HCY and serum triglycerides or cholesterol levels within each group. We conclude that high plasma HCY level may be a risk factor for retinal artery occlusive disease.
Department of Biochemistry, Erciyes University Medical Faculty, PK, Kayseri, Turkey. fnarin@erciyes.edu.tr
Figen
F
Narin
Nazmi
N
Narin
Canan
C
Halici
Ayse Ozturk
AO
Oner
Hakki
H
Dogan
Musa
M
Karakukcu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey
D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine