Does Down's syndrome support the homocysteine theory of atherogenesis? Experience in elderly subjects with trisomy 21.
Down syndrome (DS) is generally considered as an "atheroma-free model". In this preliminary study, we investigated homocysteine, folate and Vitamin B(12) levels in 13 DS patients (male, average age 60 years) and 20 age-matched individuals. We also studied lipid fractions, and polymorphisms for Cystothionine beta-synthase (CBS), 5,10-methyl-tetrahydro-folate reductase (MTHFR) and apolipoprotein E (Apo-E) genes. However, DS patients with the MTHFR TT genotype showed an increased of plasma homocysteine (tHcy). Our results indicate that this group of "healthy old" Down syndrome patients, although showing some classical biochemical risk factors for atherosclerosis, did not suffer clinical cardiovascular alterations.
Department of Experimental Pathology, Laboratory of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Federico
F
Licastro
Alessandro
A
Marocchi
Silvana
S
Penco
Elisa
E
Porcellini
Domenico
D
Lio
Giada
G
Dogliotti
Massimiliano M
MM
Corsi
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12