Homocysteine and hypertension in persons with spinal cord injury.
METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of a convenience sample of locally recruited participants, including both patients and volunteers.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is an association between plasma homocysteine and hypertension in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Spinal Cord Injury Service of the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Medical Center (California, United States of America).


METHODS
The incidence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and the presence of metabolic syndrome were determined in 168 individuals with SCI (mean age 50.2 +/- 12.8 years). Fasting lipids, insulin, glucose, plasma homocysteine, and anthropometric data was gathered for each subject.


RESULTS
Blood pressure values (P < 0.001) and mean arterial pressure (P < 0.05) increased with higher plasma homocysteine levels. Homocysteine values were also significantly greater among individuals with hypertension compared with those who were normotensive or prehypertensive (P < 0.0001). There was an inverse relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma homocysteine levels are elevated in persons with SCI who have hypertension and inversely related to renal function, which suggests that renal dysfunction may be a link between homocysteine and hypertension in persons with SCI.


BACKGROUND
Funded by the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, Merit Review Grant #B2549R.
Lee
M Y
MY
Spinal Cord Injury Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, CA 94304, USA.
Myers
J
J
Abella
J
J
Froelicher
V F
VF
Perkash
I
I
Kiratli
B J
BJ
D017677:Age Distribution; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D006710:Homocysteine