title: Homocysteine measurements in geriatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Homocysteine measurements may be relevant in geriatric medicine as homocysteine has been identified as an independent risk factor for prevalent disorders such as occlusive arterial vascular disease, cognitive impairment and dementia. The aim of the present study was to study diagnostic correlates of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) in geriatric in-patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples for the analysis of tHcy and related factors like serum vitamin B12, serum folate, red blood cell folate and clinical data were collected from geriatric patients (n=114) in stable clinical condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost 40% of the patients had tHcy values above 20 micromol/L. tHcy correlated significantly with serum folate, serum vitamin B12, serum creatinine and congestive heart failure, but not with red blood cell folate, cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease or cognitive impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperhomocysteinaemia seems to be frequent in geriatric patients and might primarily be an indicator of low folate and high creatinine values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raeder
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landaas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laake
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lyberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engedal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine