Abstract

HOMOCYSTEINE: A RISK FACTOR FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

B. Bhanu Mitra*, S. Pravallika*, Dr. Venkata Rohit Kumar Chandolu** and J. N. Suresh Kumar

ABSTRACT

Homocysteine is a sulphur aminoacid, which is a metabolic by-product of methionine. Recent studies showed that risk of cardiovascular diseases have been increased with increase in plasma concentration of homocysteine. Increased homocysteine is medically termed as hyperhomocyseinemia. Hyperhomocysteinemia causes damage to the vascular endothelium, leading to inflammation in the blood vessel, which in turn leads to atherogenesis which may results in ischemic injury,hencehyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, mainly may cause coronary artey disease due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque blocking the coronary artery which supplies oxygenated blood to the heart. In some cases stroke may leads to cardiovascular diseases as brain is exposed to most of the plasma constituents including homocysteine, as it has its effect on hypothalamus which controls the contractility of heart. Increase in homocysteine is associated with low levels of vitamin B6, B12 and folate. Hence vitamin supplement with vit-B6,B12 and folate may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Homocysteine may also increases with age and it is even greater in men compared to women and some other risk factors includes smoking, lack of exercise, renal failure, genetic factors and some of the drugs (theophylline, corticosteroids, phenytoin, methotrexate fibrates etc.). From the above statement, the risk of cardiovascular diseases can be assessed by correlating homocysteine levels with total, HDL, LDL-cholesterol, systolic B.P, and serum creatinine. Conclusion: Hence we conclude that increased blood levels of homocysteine is directly proportional to cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Homocysteine, Vitamin Deficiency, Atherogenesis, Plaque, Hypothalamus.