[Case-control study evaluating the incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia in cancer patients in an internal medicine department].
OBJECTIVE
Cancer is a cause of venous thromboembolism. However, the physiopathology remains unknown. Hyperhomocysteinemia could be a promoting factor.


METHODS
We built a case-control study of 65 patients followed for 2 years to compare levels of homocystéinémie in cancer bearing patients with that in matched cancer free control patients.


RESULTS
Fifty per cent of cancer bearing patients had significantly increased blood serum levels of homocystéine (P=0.006). This increase did not correlate with any deficiency in blood serum levels of folate or vitamin B12.


CONCLUSIONS
High levels of homocystéinémie could be linked to tumor proliferation.
Falvo
N
N
Service de médecine interne et immunologie clinique, hôpital du Bocage, 2, boulevard de Lattre-de-Tassigny, 21030 Dijon cedex, France. nicolas.falvo@chu-dijon.fr
Ghiringhelli
F
F
Berthier
S
S
Bonnotte
B
B
Lorcerie
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
D006710:Homocysteine