[Plasma homocysteine concentration in patients with ischaemic stroke caused by large or small vessel disease].
Homocysteine is known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, but its contribution to the different etiologies of ischaemic stroke remains unclear.


OBJECTIVE
Comparison of homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin 812 plasma concentrations in patients with ischaemic stroke due to large vessel disease (LVD), small vessel disease (SVD) and in controls.


METHODS
We studied 71 patients with ischaemic stroke (including 30 patients with LVD and 41 patients with SVD) as well as 30 control subjects. Aetiology of ischaemic stroke was established according to the TOAST criteria using computed tomography of the head, EKG, carotid ultrasound and echocardiography. In patients being 3-12 months after stroke we registered age, sex and the presence of common risk factors for stroke. The serum concentrations of homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin 812 were measured in venous blood samples drawn after the overnight fasting.


RESULTS
Serum homocysteine concentrations were similar in patients with LVD, SVD, and in controls (19.5 +/- 8.9, 18.6 +/- 6.6, and 16.8 +/- 6.4 micromol/l, respectively) (p = 0.36, ANOVA). Vitamin 812 concentrations did not differ significantly among patients with LVD, SVD, and in controls (377 +/- 143, 414 +/- 179, and 412 +/- 173 pg/ml, respectively) (p = 0.66, ANOVA). Patients with LVD, SVD, and controls were also similar regarding the concentrations of folic acid (7.1 +/- 4.0, 6.4 +/- 2.7, and 7.6 +/- 4.0 ng/ml, respectively) (p = 0.38, ANOVA).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum concentrations of homocysteine, vitamin 812, and folic acid are similar in patients with stroke due to LVD, SVD, and in control subjects.
Turaj
Wojciech
W
Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Department of Neurology, Kraków, Poland. turaj@cm-uj.krakow.pl
Iskra
Tomasz
T
Pułyk
Roman
R
Slowik
Agnieszka
A
Szczudlik
Andrzej
A
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12