title: Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities in Tunisian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the association between hyperhomocysteinemia (HHC) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of lower extremities in Tunisians.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study included 90 patients with DVT of the lower extremities and 160 healthy controls. Plasma homocysteine, vitamin B(12) and folate were determined using immunoenzymatic methods. Logistic regression models were performed to test whether the association between HHC and DVT is independent and to precise determinants of HHC in DVT patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma total homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in patients with DVT (17.4+/-11.5 micromol/L) and in patients with idiopathic DVT (15.2+/-6.4 micromol/L) as compared to controls (11.5+/-3.3 micromol/L). HHC was significantly associated (p<0.001) with all DVT (OR, 8.82; 95% CI, 3.96-19.6) as well as idiopathic DVT (OR, 7.40; 95% CI, 3.01-10.8). These associations persisted after adjustment for several thrombosis risk factors. In patients with DVT, HHC was related to folate and vitamin B(12) concentrations, but neither to the type of occurrence nor to the recurrence of DVT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HHC is independently associated with first DVT of lower extremities in Tunisians. Homocysteine should be assessed in patients with DVT and the effect of vitamin B supplementation should be tested among them.
authors.affiliation: Lab-SM-01 Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Souheil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Imed Ben
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Ghorbel
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.forename: Malek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Souissi
authors.forename: Moncef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Houman
authors.forename: Neziha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaabachi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D014805:Vitamin B 12