Assessment of role of homocysteine in coronary heart disease

Background: Homocysteine has been under a lot of speculation since its discovery in 1932. The present study was conducted to assess the role of homocysteine in coronary heart disease. Materials and Methods: 76 patients of coronary heart disease of both genders were included. The body mass index was calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)2. Blood pressures were measured. Serum total homocysteine was measured. Serum total and HDL cholesterol were determined with standard methods. Serum creatinine was determined with a modified Jaffe´ method. Results: Out of 76 patients, males were 52 and females were 24. The mean BMI (Kg/m2) was 25.4, SBP (mm Hg) was 154.2, DBP (mm Hg) was 86.4, serum cholesterol (mmol/L) was 6.52, serum HDL (mmol/L) was 1.08, serum creatinine (µmmol/L) was 112.9. Co-morbidities comprise of hypertension in 34, diabetes mellitus in 8, myocardial infarction in 14, stroke in 7 and smoking in 26. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Crude value was 1.09 and adjusted value was 1.56 in CHD and crude value was 1.88, adjusted value was 1.27, normotensive adjusted value was 6.17 and hypertensive adjusted value was 1.64. Conclusion: A high homocysteine level is common and is strongly associated with the prevalence of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.