Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities in Tunisian patients.
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.
Omar
Souheil
S
Lab-SM-01 Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ghorbel
Imed Ben
IB
Feki
Habib
H
Souissi
Malek
M
Feki
Moncef
M
Houman
Habib
H
Kaabachi
Neziha
N
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
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D014805:Vitamin B 12