title: Evaluation of chemiluminescence method for the analysis of plasma homocysteine and comparison with HPLC method in children samples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the results for homocysteine concentration using chemiluminescence and HPLC methods in samples from school-age children. In addition, to determine the reference values for patients of this age group and assess the real prognostic value of homocysteine in healthy children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was undertaken to determine plasma levels of homocysteine using two different assays, HPLC and chemiluminescence, in 185 samples from school-age children living in Santo Andre, with no chronic or inflammatory diseases, and absence of pubertal development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were presented in percentiles and reference values were determined within this age group (7-9 years old). Homocysteine concentration ranged from 2.0 to 9.9 µmol/l (r = 0.821 and p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was verified that chemiluminescence is comparable to HPLC when both techniques are used to detect homocysteine in school-age children. There is an important correlation between both methods, which allows investigation of this amino acid as a risk factor for heart diseases.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Thais Moura
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gascón
authors.affiliation: Brazil, BR.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.affiliation: Brazil, BR.
authors.forename: Claudia Giorgia Bronzatti de
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Fabiola Isabel Suano
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hix
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Roseli Oselka Sacardo
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Sarni
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Arantes
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Bacan
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Auro Del
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Giglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Diadema, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Fernando Luiz Affonso
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Fonseca