Plasma homocysteine and retinal artery occlusive disease: a case-control study

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have documented that elevated plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease. In a case-control study, we sought to determine whether elevated homocysteine [HCY] is a risk factor for retinal artery occlusive disease. Patients and Methods. Study subjects consisted of 20 patients [12 male, 8 female] [mean age, 55.8; range 42-70 years] with clinical and objective evidence of retinal vascular occlusive disease and 20 age-matched control subjects [9 males, 11 females] [mean age, 55.3 years; range 50-68 years]. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as a plasma HCY level >15 micro mol/L by HPLC. We also measured concentrations of triglycerides, and total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. The mean plasma HCY level in the patient group was 21.23 +/- 9.53 micro mol/L [range, 8.00-43.99 micro mol/L] compared with 12.59 +/- 4.97 micro mol/L [range, 6.38 to 22.88 micro mol/L] in the control group [P<0.008]. There was no correlation between HCY and serum triglycerides or cholesterol levels within each group. We conclude that high plasma HCY level may be a risk factor for retinal artery occlusive disease