Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with stasis dermatitis and ulcer: a novel finding with important therapeutic implications.
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.
Durmazlar
Selda Pelin Kartal
SP
Department of Dermatology, Ministry of Health Ankara Diskapi Yildirimi Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. pelin@dr.com
Akgul
Ahmet
A
Eskioglu
Fatma
F
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid