title: Descriptive study of possible link between cardioankle vascular index and homocysteine in vascular-related diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardioankle vascular index (CAVI) is a new index of arterial stiffness independent of immediate blood pressure. Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for vascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Hcy and CAVI in the vascular-related diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive research.
  
  
  METHODS
  88 patients (M/F 46/42) with or without hypertension, coronary artery disease or arteriosclerosis obliterans were enrolled to our study. They were divided into two groups according to the level of Hcy.
  
  
  METHODS
  CAVI, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (CR-PWV) were measured by VS-1000 and Complior apparatus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant correlation between Hcy and CF-PWV, CR-PWV, CAVI in the entire group (r=0.33, p=0.002; r=0.51, p<0.001; r=0.42, p<0.001, respectively). And there was significant correlation between Hcy and CF-PWV, CR-PWV, CAVI in the vascular-related disease group (r=0.23, p=0.048; r=0.51, p<0.001; r=0.392, p=0.001, respectively). The level of Hcy was significantly higher in patients with one or more vascular diseases than in patients without vascular diseases. The levels of CF-PWV, CR-PWV and CAVI were significantly higher in Hcy ≥15 μmol/l group than in Hcy <5 μmol/l group (13.7±3.0 vs 10.8±2.5, p < 0.001; 10.6±2.1 vs 9.2±1.6, p=0.001; 9.30±2.1 vs 7.79±2.1, p=0.001, respectively). Multiple linear regression showed that Hcy, body mass index (BMI) and age were independent associating factors of CAVI in the entire study group (β=0.421, p=0.001; β=-0.309, p=0.006; β=0.297, p=0.012, respectively). And Hcy, BMI and age were independent influencing factors of CAVI in the vascular-related disease group (β=0.434, p=0.001; β=-0.331, p=0.009; β=0.288, p=0.022, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAVI was positively correlated with Hcy in the vascular-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jinbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiaobao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu