Homocysteine and thyroid hormones in patients with familial dilated cardiomyopathy

ABSTRACT

Familial linkage of primary dilated cardiomyopathy [DCM] occurs more commonly than often is appreciated. In J 0-20 percent of patients, a first degree relative also shows evidence of primary DCM suggesting that familial transmission is relatively frequent. This study included 7 patients aged 40-70 years [2 females and 5 males] with familial dilated cardiomyopathy [FDCM] and 17 healthy subjects aged 29-60 years [6 females and 11 males]. Plasma fasting total homocysteine tHCY, serum folic acid [FA], vitamin B6, total triiodothyronine [T3], and total thyroxine [T4] were measured in these two groups. The mean value of plasma tHCY was significantly higher in patients with FDCM than in control [P<0.001]. The mean [ +/- SD] values of serum folic acid and vitamin B6 were significantly decreased in FDCM patients when compared with those of control group [P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively]. A significant inverse relationship between plasma tHCY concentration and the values of serum FA was shown in the FDCM patients [r=-0.78, P<0.05]. The mean values of serum T3 and T4 were insignificantly decreased in patients with FDCM than in controls. The level of plasma tHCY is significantly higher in FDCM patients than in healthy control. This severe hyperhomocyteinemia of FDCM patients may be related to evolution and development of myopathic state in such patients