Homocysteine Levels May Play Role in Raynaud's Phenomenon

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Homocysteine Levels May Play Role in Raynaud's Phenomenon

07/18/2002

By Anne MacLennan

Homocysteine may play a role in Raynaud's phenomenon, potentially

providing important new clues to the understanding of vasomotor

dysregulation.

This is the view of researchers at the University of Vienna, Austria,

following an investigation of the concentrations of plasma homocysteine,

folate and vitamin B12 in patients with primary or secondary Raynaud's

phenomenon (RP).

The vasomotor dysregulation in patients with RP is caused mainly by

dysfunction of the endothelium. This current study was prompted by the

fact homocysteine has been found to be damaging to endothelial cells.

Dr M. Al-Awami and colleagues from the Department of Medical Angiology

and the Clinical Institute for Medical Laboratory Diagnostics measured

the concentrations of plasma fasting homocysteine, folate and vitamin

B12 in a group of 45 healthy individuals and 26 patients with primary

and 42 with secondary RP.

In the healthy controls, median homocysteine levels were 7.9 mumol/L

versus 9.8 mumol/L in patients with primary RP and 10.6 mumol/L in those

with secondary RP.

Compared with healthy controls, patients with primary and secondary RP

had significantly higher homocysteine concentration. This remained the

case after researchers took age and sex into account.

In terms of serum levels of vitamin B12 or serum folate levels, there

were no significant differences among the three groups.

Thus, RP patients have higher plasma levels of homocysteine than do

healthy individuals but similar levels of folate and vitamin B12, which

may provide add to understanding of vasomotor dysfunction, conclude

these researchers.

Vasa, Seite 87 - 90, Band 31, 2002, Heft 2. " Homocysteine levels in

patients with Raynaud's phenomenon "

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