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Homocysteine and markers of coagulation and endothelial cell activation
Author(s) -
Gerdes V. E. A.,
Hovinga H. A. Kremer,
Ten Cate H.,
Macgillavry M. R.,
Leijte A.,
Reitsma P. H.,
Brandjes D. P. M.,
Büller H. R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.947
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 1538-7836
pISSN - 1538-7933
DOI - 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2004.00674.x
Subject(s) - hyperhomocysteinemia , homocysteine , methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase , medicine , von willebrand factor , thrombomodulin , coagulation , endocrinology , gastroenterology , immunology , platelet , thrombin , chemistry , biochemistry , genotype , gene
Summary. Objective: In vitro studies suggest an influence of hyperhomocysteinemia on the coagulation system, but the influence of mild hyperhomocysteinemia in vivo is unclear. Methods and results: We studied the relation between homocysteine and markers of coagulation activation and endothelial cell activation in 279 patients with established atherosclerotic disease. In addition, we performed an investigator‐blinded placebo‐controlled cross‐over study to investigate the influence of acute hyperhomocysteinemia by oral methionine load on these markers in 20 healthy volunteers. In the atherosclerotic patients prothrombin fragment F1+2 and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) were associated with homocysteine in univariate analyses ( P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively), but not in multivariate analyses. Age, creatinine and MTHFR C677T polymorphism were major determinants of homocysteine concentration. MTHFR C677T polymorphism status was not associated with F1+2 and sTM. Median homocysteine concentrations increased in the healthy volunteers after methione load. However, after methionine load or after placebo, we did not observe different plasma concentrations of F1+2 (0.9 nmol L −1 vs. 0.9 nmol L −1 , P = 0.39), d‐dimer (153 µg L −1 vs. 151 µg L −1 , P = 0.63) and von Willebrand factor (103% vs. 107%, P = 1.00). Conclusion: These results provide evidence against a major effect of mild hyperhomocysteinemia on activation of the coagulation system and endothelial cell activation in vivo .