No evidence for hyperhomocysteinemia or increased prevalence of genetic polymorphisms in the homocysteine pathway in patients with moderate juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations are associated with premature cardiovascular disease. We assessed tHcy, folate, vitamin B12 (Vit B12), vitamin B6 (Vit B6), and genetic polymorphisms potentially enhancing tHcy in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and healthy controls.


METHODS
Open study of 56 consecutive patients with JIA and 62 controls.


RESULTS
tHcy concentrations were normal in JIA patients (mean 6.5 +/- 2 micromol/l) and controls (mean 7.5 +/- 2.2 micromol/l). Folate concentrations were significantly higher in JIA patients (40.2 +/- 67.9 ng/ml) compared to controls (13.6 +/- 8.2 ng/ml). The prevalence of genetic polymorphisms coding for key enzymes in the homocysteine pathway did not differ between patients and controls. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) showed significant inverse correlations with circulating Vit B6 and tHcy concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
No evidence for hyperhomocysteinemia or evidence for a specific genetic predisposition for hyperhomocysteinemia was present in patients with JIA. Elevated ESR is not associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.
Huemer
Martina
M
Department of Pediatrics, Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch, Feldkirch, Austria. m333.huemer@aon.at
Huemer
Christian
C
Ulmer
Hanno
H
Crone
Julia
J
Födinger
Manuela
M
Falger
Jutta
J
Sailer-Höck
Michaela
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
D006710:Homocysteine; D004247:DNA