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Lack of association between early atherosclerotic carotid artery wall lesions and serum level of homocysteine

Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, University of Oulu, Finland, urajala{at}cc.oulu.fi, Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Finland

Markku Päivänsalo

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Oulu, Finland

Mauri Laakso

Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, University of Oulu, Finland, Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Finland

Outi Pelkonen

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Oulu, Finland

Pentti Koskela

National Public Health Institute, Oulu, Finland

Ilkka Suramo

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Oulu, Finland

Sirkka Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi

Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, University of Oulu, Finland, Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Finland

The present study evaluated the possible association of high serum levels of homocysteine with ultrasonographic manifestations of carotid atherosclerosis in 65-year-old Finnish subjects drawn from a population-based cohort. Carotid ultrasonographic measurements were performed on 54 diabetic subjects, 97 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and 57 normoglycaemic subjects. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the homocysteine levels. The median homocysteine level was higher in the subjects with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) (n=9) than in the subjects with no history of MI (14.8 [range 8.7—18.3] vs.12.3 [range 6.4—49.0] µmol/L, p=0.045). In the subjects without a history of MI or stroke, the maximal intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery did not differ in the homocysteine quintiles. There was no association between the number of atheromatous plaques and the homocysteine level. In conclusion, although high levels of serum homocysteine were not associated with early atherosclerotic changes (i.e. increased carotid IMT or the number of plaques), high homocysteine concentrations were associated with advanced atherosclerosis (i.e. a history of MI).

Key Words: intima-media thickness • carotid artery • homocysteine • diabetes mellitus • impaired glucose tolerance.

The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, Vol. 3, No. 3, 230-232 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/14746514030030031401


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