JCEM: plasma homocysteine and cardiovascular organ damage

It is not clear whether plasma homocysteine (Hcy) has a direct harmful effect on the cardiovascular (CV) system, or whether its association with cardiovascular events (CVE) is mediated by identified risk factorsIn a recent study published in the Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, the journal of The Clinical Endonology and Metabolism assessed the cross-sectional relationship between plasma Hcy and CV organ damage indicators and the association between these indicators and CVE historyresearchers measured the mid-thummy thickness of the endothelial membrane, the ankle arm index (ABI), the reactive congestion index, the pulse wave velocity of the cervical strands (cfPWV), the left ventricle (LV) and the heart index in 269 patients with diabetes, blood lipid abnormalities, and hypertension132 patients had cervical artery plaque, 31 patients ABI 0.90, 126 patients with endothelial dysfunction, 66 patients with increased cfPWV, 125 patients LV hypertrophy (LVH), 153 patients with reduced heart index and 115 patients with CVE historyAfter correcting covariates and creatinine, plasma Hcy levels were associated with LV quality and ABILvH (8.5(4.4) vs 7.6 s.2.8?mol/L; corrected P-0.001) and ABI 0.9 (10.4?3.8) vs 7.9 s.3.4?mol/L; and corrected P-0.001) patients with significantly higher Hcy levelsIn patients with associated and not associated with cervical artery plaque, increased arterial stiffness, and impaired endothelial and LV pump function, The level of Hcy was comparableOf the signs of CV organ damage, only LVH was associated with a history of CVE, the study showed an independent association between Hcy and LV mass and the history of LVH and CVE, and suggested that LVH may be one of the pathophysiological links between Hcy and CV risk