The Relationship between Homocysteine and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with Brain Infarction.

Objective To investigate the relationship between total homocysteine (tHcy) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in brain infarction patients. Methods Sixty patients with fasting plasma tHcy levels ≤10 µmol/L (non-Hhcy group), 60 patients with fasting plasma tHcy levels >10 µmol/L and ≤15 µmol/L (H1 group), and 60 patients with fasting plasma tHcy levels >15 µmol/L (H2 group) were chosen in hospitalized patients with acute cerebral infarction. Values of CIMT were detected in three groups of patients. The clinical biochemical indicators including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood sugar (FBS), folic acid (FA), Vitamin B12 (VitB12) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were also detected. Results There was significant difference in CIMT between three groups (P<0.01). The value of CIMT increased in H2 group [0.98(0.90, 1.05)mm] compared with that of non-Hhcy group [0.85(0.80, 0.95)mm]. The value of CIMT increased in H2 group compared with H1 group [0.98(0.90, 1.05)mm vs 0.85(0.85, 0.95)mm], P < 0.05). There were significant differences in tHcy, FA and VitB12 between three groups. Based on the log-transformed values of CIMT as the dependent variable, multiple stepwise linear regression showed significant associations of the following variables with increased CIMT: increasing age, the history of smoking, the history of diabetes, higher LDL-C and tHcy levels. Conclusion Brain infarction in patients with higher tHcy level often have lower levels of FA and VitB12, and increased CIMT. When the level of tHcy >15 µmol/L, there is more significantly higher level of CIMT. The increased CIMT level was associated with some cerebrovascular risk factors in patients with brain infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]