Key result
Elevated homocysteine and related polymorphisms show no association with carotid intima-media thickness.
Why the study?
It was unclear whether homocysteine metabolism influences common carotid artery intima-media thickness, a predictor of stroke.
Observational (n=714)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA IMT) is a predictor of stroke. This study aimed to analyze whether homocysteine (Hcys) metabolism influences CCA IMT. METHODS: We analyzed the association of personal, clinical, and biochemical data (multivariate analysis) and of 9 polymorphisms involved in Hcys metabolism (ANOVA) with CCA IMT in 714 individuals of 187 families. RESULTS: CCA IMT was significantly predicted by age, sex, creatinine levels, lipoprotein(a) levels, pack-years of smoking, the presence of hypertension, and the presence of diabetes mellitus but not by Hcys levels. Homozygosity for the T allele of the polymorphism methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase c.677C>T was significantly associated with higher Hcys levels but not with a higher CCA IMT. CONCLUSIONS: These data do not support the thesis that elevated Hcys levels are causally involved in cerebrovascular disease.
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Linnebank et al. (2006) conducted an observational in Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (n=714). Homocysteine levels and metabolism polymorphisms vs. Normal/lower levels and alternative alleles was evaluated on Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA IMT). Elevated homocysteine levels and related genetic polymorphisms were not significantly associated with increased common carotid artery intima-media thickness.
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