title: Frequency of hyper-homocysteinaemia in ischaemic stroke patients of Karachi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out the frequency of hyper-homocysteinaemia in ischaemic stroke patients and its relation with other risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study based on convenience sampling was conducted at the Civil Hospital, Karachi, from May to July 2012. It comprised ischaemic stroke patients selected from the Out Patient Department and Emergency Department. An overnight 8-hour fasting venous blood sample (4 ml in ethylenediamminetetraacetate) was drawn for analysis. Rest of the data was collected through a structured proforma and was analysed using SPSS 17.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 96 patients in the study was 64.9 ± 10.9 years (range: 40-85). Overall, 56 (58.3%) cases had hyper-homocysteinemia.The frequency was significantly high in the age 60-79 age group (p < 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyper-homocysteinaemia, a modifiable risk factor, is associated with a high number of ischaemic stroke patients. Hence, steps should be taken to minimise this risk factor by screening and early intervention.
authors.forename: Munir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadiq
authors.forename: Muhammad Tanveer
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Muhammad Adnan
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kanpurwala
authors.forename: Muhammad Shahzeb
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine