Homocysteine and retinal emboli: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.
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.
Chua
Brian
B
Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Kifley
Annette
A
Wong
Tien Y
TY
Mitchell
Paul
P
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*
D006710:Homocysteine