Analysis of Classical Risk Factors and Homocysteine Level in Acute Myocardiac Infarction / 임상검사와정도관리

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia can be treated and is more preventable compared to the classical risk factors such as age, sex, smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. METHODS: Serum homocysteine levels were analyzed with fluorescence polarized immunoassay (IMx, Abbott Diagnostics) for 63 patients with acute myocadiac infarction (AMI) and 43 controls who did not have coronary arterial disease from 1997 to 1998. Medical records were reviewed to compare the classical risk factors between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean homocysteine level of AMI was 9.3 +/-5.3 micronmol/L, which is slightly lower than 9.8+/-5.8 micronmol/L in the control group (P>0.05). Other risk factors were not significantly different between the two groups with the exception of serum cholesterol level. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that hypercholesterolemia is an important risk factor for AMI, while serum homocysteine level is not, as far as this study goes. Well planned follow up studies are needed to establish the degree to which homocysteine is a risk factor for AMI.