Analysis of the correlation between serum homocysteine level and carotid intima-media thickness

Objective To investigate the serum homocysteine (Hcy) level and intima-media thickness (IMT) of patients with carotid artery stenosis and the relation between the two. Methods A total of 126 patients diagnosed as carotid artery stenosis and performed by carotid endarterectomy (CEA) from January 2012 to April 2018 were selected in this study. The extent of carotid artery stenosis was evaluated by carotid Doppler color ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Serum Hcy levels were measured in all patients and 100 healthy controls. Results The average concentration of serum Hcy [(16.47 ± 6.53) μ mol/L vs. (10.53 ± 3.39) μ mol/L; t = 8.828, P = 0.000], the incidence rate of hyperhomocysteinemia [61 cases (48.41%) vs. 6 cases (6%); χ2 = 48.084, P = 0.000] and IMT of carotid artery [(1.33 ± 0.15) mm vs. (0.82 ± 0.11) mm; t = 28.462, P = 0.000] in carotid artery stenosis group were significantly higher than those in control group. According to the extent of carotid artery stenosis, the carotid artery stenosis group was further divided into moderate (N = 10) and severe (N = 116) carotid artery stenosis subgroups. The average concentration of serum Hcy in moderate stenosis group was significantly lower than that in severe stenosis group [(13.44 ± 2.83) μmol/L vs. (16.73 ± 6.69) μmol/L; t = -3.022, P = 0.007]. Nevertheless, the incidence rate of hyperhomocysteinemia [2 cases (2/10) vs. 59 cases (50.86%); adjusted χ2 = 2.384, P = 0.123] had no significant difference between 2 subgroups. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that the concentration of serum Hcy was positively related with IMT of carotid artery (r = 0.610, P = 0.032). Conclusions Patients with carotid artery stenosis present higher level of serum Hcy, which is positively associated with IMT. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2019.01.009