title: Study on relationships among deep vein thrombosis, homocysteine & related B group vitamins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hyperhomocysteinemia has been considered as a potential risk factor for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) but it is still controversy. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with DVT. Our second objective was to document the prevalence of folate, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12 level in this patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with DVT aged from 23 to 84 years, were assessed regarding demographic characteristics, serum levels of homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6. The diagnosis of DVT was based upon Wells scoring system and serum D-dimer level and confirmed by deep venous Doppler ultrasonography of the lower limbs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum homocysteine levels were found significantly higher in patients over the age of 40 years (10.81±4.26 µmol/L vs 9.13±3.23 µmol/L). Of all the patients, 9 patients had homocysteine level above the 15µmol/L, 26 had folic acid level below 3 ng/ml, one had vitamin B12 level below 150 pmol/L, and two had vitamin B6 level below 30 nmol/L. In the hyperhomocysteinemic group, five patients had low folic acid level, one had low vitamin B12 level, and two had low vitamin B6 level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperhomocysteinemia, in women older than 40 years, may be a risk factor for DVT. Folic acid deficiency may also influence serum homocysteine concentrations. Folate therapy may be offered to the patients with DVT. However further studies are required to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Meral Ekim, MD, PhD. Bozok University School of Health, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekim
authors.affiliation: Hasan Ekim, MD. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ekim
authors.affiliation: Yunus Keser Yilmaz, MD. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus Keser
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Bahadir Kulah, MD. Department of Surgery, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bahadir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kulah
authors.affiliation: M. Fevzi Polat, PhD. Department of Biochemistry, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Fevzi
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.affiliation: Yesim Gocmen, PhD. Department of Biochemistry, Bozok University School of Medicine, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: A Yesim
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Gocmen
keywords: B Group Vitamin; Deep Venous Trombosis; Hyperhomocysteinemia