title: Hepatitis C virus co-infection and sexual risk behaviour are associated with a high homocysteine serum level in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: A better understanding of the relationship of homocysteine with cardiovascular risk factors is needed. The objectives of this study were to assess the serum level of homocysteine in HIV-infected patients and to analyse the possible association of increased levels of the amino acid with cardiovascular risk factors, demographic and clinical characteristics of participants.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study carried out as a supplementary task to the usual controls necessary in HIV-infected patients in the outpatient clinic of the Hospital General of Castellon, Spain. For two consecutive visits the demographic, clinical and HIV-related characteristics and blood analyses results were obtained for each participant. Homocysteine serum level was documented and the possible association of the amino acid with all the other study variables was assessed with a multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  
  A total of 145 patients were included. The mean homocysteine serum level of all participants was 11.9 ± 5.9 µmol/L. A total of 54 patients (37%) presented homocysteine serum levels higher than the upper limit of normal. An association was found between higher homocysteine serum level and the following variables: family history of early coronary disease (P = 0.027), sexual HIV risk behaviour (P = 0.016), hepatitis C virus co-infection (P = 0.002), higher height (P = 0.002), higher diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.049), lower serum level of folic acid (P <0.001), and lower serum level of vitamin B12 (P = <0.001).
  
  
  
  In the HIV population, increased homocysteine serum level is associated with sexual risk behaviour and hepatitis C virus coinfection.
authors.affiliation: Hospital General of Castellon, University of Valencia and University Jaume I, Spain. brocav@meditex.es
authors.forename: Bernardino
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Marián
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennasar
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Mari Cruz
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: del Monte
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Resino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12