title: Elevated plasma homocysteine levels in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that homocysteine (Hcy) may be directly involved in the damage of motor neurons and in several pathways implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether plasma Hcy levels were higher in ALS patients than healthy controls and to examine the relationship between Hcy levels and clinical ALS phenotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, we compared Hcy, B(12), and folate levels in 62 patients with ALS and 88 age- and sex-matched controls recruited as outpatients in a tertiary clinical center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with ALS had higher median plasma Hcy levels (11.2 [range 5.8 to 46] vs 9.7 [range 4.5 to 15.9] micromol/L; p = 0.0004) and lower folate levels (4.4 [range 1.7 to 22.1] vs 5.8 [range 2.3 to 21.1] ng/mL; p = 0.0003), compared with controls. Multivariate logistic regression revealed a strong direct association between plasma Hcy levels and presence of ALS (odds ratios adjusted for age, sex, and B-vitamin levels comparing the top tertile [Hcy levels >or= 11.6 micromol/L] with the bottom tertile [Hcy levels < 9.2 micromol/L]: 6.4; 95% CI 2.2 to 19.1; p for trend = 0.0008). We also found a trend for higher Hcy levels in patients with shorter interval from symptom onset to diagnosis (ODI; <14 months), compared with patients with longer ODI (>14 months; median Hcy levels 11.8 [range 5.8 to 46] vs 10.1 [range 7.2 to 17.6] micromol/L; p = 0.09). In a multivariate model, Hcy levels strongly correlated with shorter interval onset diagnosis (r(2) = 0.18; p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels were significantly increased in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared with healthy controls. ALS cases with shorter time to diagnosis presented higher Hcy levels, suggesting that higher Hcy may be linked to faster progression of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Neurology, Lorenzo Bonomo Hospital, Andria, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zoccolella
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Simone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Samarelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tortelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serlenga
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Logroscino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12