title: Plasma levels of homocysteine in Buerger's sufferers and healthy heavy smokers and non-smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between homocysteine levels and Buerger's disease in a case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 patients with Buerger's disease based on Shionoya's clinical criteria, and 25 heavy smokers along with 25 healthy non-smokers (control) were recruited for this study. All groups were matched for age. Plasma homocysteine levels were measured in each patient and then compared between the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean plasma concentration of homocysteine was 16.88 mmol/L in the Buerger sufferers; as for the smoker (group 2) and control (group 3) groups, the level was as low as 13.89 and 13.56 mmol/L, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with thromboangiitis obliterans, especially those with a progressive course, benefit from the hyperhomocysteinemia screening test.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Department, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Adel Yazdankhah
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Kenari
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salimi
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khashayar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D013919:Thromboangiitis Obliterans / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine