Homocysteine measurements in geriatric patients.
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.
Raeder
S
S
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Landaas
S
S
Laake
K
K
Lyberg
T
T
Engedal
K
K
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
D006710:Homocysteine