Serum level of homocysteine is correlated to carotid artery atherosclerosis in Chinese with ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between serum level of homocysteine (Hcy) and carotid artery atheroscleosis (CAA).


METHODS
Both sides of the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery in 126 Chinese patients with ischemic stroke were measured by B-mode ultrasound. The patients were divided into groups: normal, A, B, C and D according to the severity of CAAs. With fasting serum, Hcy as well as folate, vitamin B(12) and lipids were detected. The mean +/- SD age was 64 +/- 13 years (range 39-87 years).


RESULTS
In a logistic regression model, the Hcy concentrations were associated with an elevated risk of CAAs independent of all traditional risk factors, and when CAAs became severer, the serum Hcy was higher. The levels of the normal group and A, B, C, D groups were 13.22 +/- 6.15 micromol/L, 16.29 +/- 9.81 micromol/l, 19.49 +/- 11.16 micromol/l, 27.21 +/- 17.47 micromol/l, and 24.14 +/- 8.64 micromol/l, respectively. Rank test showed a significant difference between normal and other groups (p<0.05). The levels of folate and vitamin B(12) were negatively correlated with the Hcy concentrations. Spearman correlation coefficient were -0.23 and -0.42 (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor of CAAs and the degree of CAAs is highly correlated with the level of Hcy in serum. The causes of hyperhomocysteinemia may be the result from the decrease in folate and vitamin B(12). Clinical trials are now required to evaluate the effect of treatment with these vitamins on the primary and secondary prevention of cerebral vascular diseases.
Wang
Hongli
H
Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China.
Fan
Dongsheng
D
Zhang
Hui
H
Fu
Yu
Y
Zhang
Jun
J
Shen
Yang
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine