Plasma homocysteine--a marker of vascular disease in elderly patients with mental illness.
BACKGROUND
Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentration is elevated in elderly patients with mental illness, and patients with vascular disease have higher plasma tHcy concentration than patients without vascular disease.


METHODS
We investigated the influence of cobalamin/folate status and renal function on the association between plasma tHcy levels and vascular disease.


RESULTS
There was a similar degree of significant difference in plasma tHcy levels between patients with and without vascular disease in all enrolled patients and in a group of patients where all those with signs of cobalamin/folate deficiency and/or impaired renal function had been excluded. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis showed that the age-adjusted plasma tHcy was the main predictor of vascular disease in both groups of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the presence of vascular disease itself is associated with elevated levels of plasma tHcy. Plasma tHcy might be a marker of vascular disease in elderly patients with mental illness.
Nilsson
Karin
K
Department of Psychogeriatrics, Clinical Science, Lund University Hospital, S 22185 Lund, Sweden.
Gustafson
Lars
L
Hultberg
Björn
B
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12