title: Homocysteine and retinal emboli: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between serum homocysteine and retinal emboli in a general older population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Homocysteine level was determined from fasting venous blood collection at the second Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) (n = 3509, age > or =49 years, 1997 to 2000). Retinal emboli were graded from retinal photographs. Using logistic regression, we analyzed associations between serum homocysteine and retinal emboli adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, body mass index, and lipid levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After multivariable adjustment, serum homocysteine was associated with presence of retinal emboli (odds ratio (OR) 1.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0 to 1.6 per standard deviation [4.8 micromol/l] increase in serum homocysteine).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum homocysteine is weakly associated with increased odds of retinal emboli in this older population-based study.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kifley
authors.forename: Tien Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004617:Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D016231:Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine