title: Hyperhomocysteinemia, folateo and B12 vitamin in Iranian patients with acute ischemic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of some factors such as serum levels of homocysteine, folate and B12 vitamin with stroke in acute ischemic stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case control study, serum levels of homocysteine, folate and B12 vitamin in 93 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital between September 2008 and January 2010, and 93 healthy controls were measured. Cerebrovascular risk factors including age, sex, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, coronary artery disease and obesity were recorded. The results were compared between the case and control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of fasting total homocysteine (tHcy) level in acute ischemic stroke patients was 20.58 ± 19.6 µmol/l, which was significantly higher than that of control group being 14.11 ± 9.5 µmol/l (P = 0.002). 39 (41.9%) stroke cases and 25 (26.8%) controls had hyperhomocysteinemia. There were no significant relationships between tHcy, folate and B12 vitamin levels with the above mentioned cerebrovascular risk factors except for smoking (p> 0.05). No significant difference in B12 vitamin and folate levels between patients and healthy controls were detected (P> 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperhomocysteinemia is common in Iranian patients with acute ischemic stroke and might play a role as an independent risk factor in stroke.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hoseinali Qeilichnia
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Omrani
authors.forename: Ehsan Esmaili
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Shandiz
authors.forename: Mojdeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qabai
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaman
authors.forename: Hamed Amiri
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Fard
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qaffarpoor