title: Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with stasis dermatitis and ulcer: a novel finding with important therapeutic implications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although homocysteine (Hcy) has profound effects concerning vascular lesions and thrombosis, it has not previously been investigated in patients with stasis dermatitis and ulcer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate plasma Hcy levels in patients with stasis dermatitis and ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25 patients (17 male, eight female; mean age of 36 +/- 5.97 years) with stasis dermatitis, 40 patients with stasis ulcer (27 male, 13 female; mean age of 38.5 +/- 7.96 years) and 35 healthy control individuals (25 male, 10 female; mean age of 36.9 +/- 6.49 years) were included in this study. Patients taking vitamin supplements or patients with folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes mellitus, chronic hepatitis, renal failure and chronic alcoholism which might affect Hcy levels were excluded from the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hcy levels were found to be elevated in patients with stasis dermatitis (p = 0.00) and stasis ulcer (p = 0.00) compared to healthy controls with a median (range) of 19.1 micromol/l (15-28), 18.98 micromol/l (15-29), and 8.1 micromol/l (5-12.2), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in Hcy level in patients with stasis dermatitis and ulcer (p = 0.877).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As hyperhomocysteinemia can be treated by selected vitamin supplementation even in patients with normal serum vitamin concentrations, ulcer formation might be prevented by lowering Hcy in the clinical stage of stasis dermatitis.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Ministry of Health Ankara Diskapi Yildirimi Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. pelin@dr.com
authors: Selda Pelin Kartal
authors: SP
authors: Durmazlar
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Akgul
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Eskioglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid