Hyperhomocysteinemia and cardiovascular diseases in Algeria people

Epidemiological research has shown that elevated total homocysteine [thcy] is a risk factor for atherosclerosis disease. This study was carried in symptomatic patients with cardiovascular disease n= 63 and asymptomatic n= 27. There was a significant decrease in Total-cholesterol [3.65mmol/l +/- 1.25] and HDL-cholesterol [0.84mmol/l +/- 0.48] in symptomatic patients and compared with asymptomatic the concentration of Total-cholesterol was [4.12mmol/l +/- 0.84] and HDL-cholesterol was [1.17mmol/l +/- 0.54]. The concentration of enzymes LDH, CK and ALP [271.47units/l +/- 129.18, 121.34units/l +/- 142.50 and 232.57units/l +/- 95.72], respectively in symptomatic patient and in asymptomatic control group were [170units/l +/- 46.3, 74.3units/l +/- 38.5 and 50 and 132.73units/l +/- 59.81], respectively, these values are increased significantly between two groups. The main values of thiols [homocysteine; cysteinylglycine, glutathione oxidized and reduced] were higher in patients with cardiovasculardisease [10.21micro mol/l +/- 5.59, 32.38 micro mol/l +/- 22.34, 17.91 micro mol/l +/- 8.83 and 32.96 micro mol/l +/- 17.34], respectively than in asymptomatic subjects where the concentration of thiols were [7.67 micro mol/l +/- 2.66, 25.48 micro mol/l +/- 11.11, 6.66 micro mol/l +/- 2.79 and 12.09 micro mol/l +/- 5.18]. The main value of homocysteine [12.89 micro mol/l +/- 4.59] was increased highly and significantly in symptomatic postmenopausal women in contrast to homocysteine concentration [8.45 micro mol/l +/- 4.94] in male patients. Our study suggests that plasma level total homocysteine is an independent risk factor in atherogenic process

Homocysteine: an independent risk factor in atherogenic process

Following oral administration of methionine in high dose, 200 mg/kg during 21 days to rats, its degradation product, homocysteine [HC] which is markedly elevated in serum exerts an angiotoxic action directed to the aortas. This is shown in degradation and desquamation of endothelial cells, also formation of foam cells in the media with dissolution of mediocytes and formation of tissue gaps. These changes are not seen in animals administered with methionine and treated with vitamins B[6], B[9] and B[12]. Because these vitamins serve as cofactors for enzymes which are required for the regulation of methionine level, so vitamins therapy in rats has reduced homocysteine in plasma