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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163466
Title: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN INCREASED HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS AND IMPAIRED FIBRINOLYTIC POTENTIAL: POTENTIAL MECHANISM FOR CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

Author
item TOFLER, GEOFFREY - ROYAL NRTH SHORE HOSP,AUS
item D'AGOSTINO, RALPH - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item JACQUES, PAUL - TUFTS-HNRCA
item BOSTOM, ANDREW - RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
item WILSON, PETER - NHLBI FRAMINGHAM HEART ST
item LIPINSKA, IZABELLA - BETH ISREAL DEACONESS
item MITTLEMAN, MURRAY - BETH ISREAL DEACONESS
item SELHUB, JACOB - TUFTS-HNRCA

Submitted to: Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/2002
Publication Date: 11/1/2002
Citation: TOFLER, G.H., D'AGOSTINO, R.B., JACQUES, P.F., BOSTOM, A.G., WILSON, P.W., LIPINSKA, I., MITTLEMAN, M.A., SELHUB, J. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN INCREASED HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS AND IMPAIRED FIBRINOLYTIC POTENTIAL: POTENTIAL MECHANISM FOR CARDIOVASCULAR RISK. THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS. 2002;88:799-804.

Interpretive Summary: The amino acid Homocysteine is formed in the body from another amino acid, methionine. Homocysteine is used by the body to reform methionine, however it can be potentially harmful if its concentration in the blood is increased. High blood homocysteine is thought to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study we determined in participants of the Framingham Study the relationship between blood homocysteine levels and measures that could increase the risk of thrombosis. Our finding indicate that high homocysteine is related to impairment of the factors that protect us from developing thrombosis. It remains to be determined if increased intake of the B vitamins, folic acid, B12 and B6, which may lower homocysteine levels, will serve as protection for developing thrombosis.

Technical Abstract: Elevated homocysteine levels increase cardiovascular risk although the mechanism is not well understood. Since thrombosis plays an important role in plaque development and acute coronary syndromes, hyperhomocysteinemia may increase risk by increasing the thrombotic potential. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hemostatic risk factors were measured in 3,216 individuals (1,451 men and 1,765 women) free of cardiovascular disease who participated in cycle 5 of the Framingham Offspring Study. An increase in homocysteine level was associated with a rise in plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) antigen, von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen level. After regression analyses adjusting for covariates, there remained significant associations between homocysteine and PAI-1 and TPA antigen. CONCLUSION: Increasing homocysteine levels are associated with impaired fibrinolytic potential, as indicated by increased PAI-1 and TPA antigen levels. These data suggest that folic acid and other homocysteine lowering therapies may decrease cardiac events through a reduction in thrombotic tendency.