title: Homocysteine, vitamin B6 and the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.
abstract: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHC) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and even mildly to moderately elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with a heightened risk for a first and recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). Within the frame of a large prospective cohort study (Austrian Study on Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism), we assessed the impact of HHC on the risk of recurrence among 602 patients with a first unprovoked VTE. HHC was an independent risk factor of recurrence conferring a relative risk of 1.5 (95th% CI 1.0-2.4). HHC is caused either by genetic defects and/or by a deficiency of the vitamins (B12, B6 and folic acid) involved in the homocysteine metabolism. Low vitamin B6 levels are associated with an increased risk of a first venous thrombosis. We currently investigate whether or not low plasma levels of PLP are associated with a heightened risk for recurrent VTE.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Internal Medicine I, Div. of Hematology and Hemostasis, Allgemeines Krankenhaus Wien, Austria. sabine.eichinger@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eichinger
mesh_terms: D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D026681:Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine