title: Role of hyperhomocystinemia in retinal vascular occlusive disease.
abstract: Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level is considered a risk factor for vascular diseases. In recent years, many scientific reports have suggested that hyperhomocystinemia may be associated with an increased risk of retinal vascular occlusive disease (RVOD). The prevalence of elevation of homocysteine in patients with a recent retinal vascular occlusion was compared to a health control group in this study. Forty-nine consecutive patients (22 M; 27 F) (age 26-85 years, mean 69) with diagnosis of retinal vascular occlusion were compared with 71 healthy controls. These patients underwent laboratory evaluation for plasma fasting total homocysteine, activated protein C resistance, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, and antiphospholipid and anticardiolipin antibodies. The G20210 prothrombin gene mutation (FII G20210A) and Factor V Leiden mutation (FVL) were evaluated. None of these enrolled subjects had other prothrombic risk factors. The health control group consisted of healthy subjects from the general population, with no history or clinical evidence of retinal vascular disease, recruited during the same 2-year period. High fasting homocystinemia (higher than 15 mumol/L) was detected in 24/49 subjects (48.9%) (P < .0005). There was a high prevalence of hyperhomocystinemia: these data suggest an association between RVOD and high fasting homocystinemia. Elevated homocysteine may be an independent risk factor, and its assessment may be important in the investigation, management, and follow-up of patients with RVOD. Further controlled studies are necessary to clarify the exact role of hyperhomocystinemia in RVOD and to evaluate the appropriate therapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Hemophilia Centre, Hemostasis and Thrombosis Service, Azienda Ospedaliera Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sottilotta
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oriana
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latella
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luise
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piromalli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mammi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Occhiuto
authors.forename: Vincenzo Trapani
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Lombardo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine