Homocysteine Levels and Coronary Heart Disease in Syria
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Author |
Rana Joubran; Muhamed Asmi; Andreas Busjahn; Athanasios Vergopoulos; Friedrich C. Luft; Muhidien Jouma |
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Published in |
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, Volume: 5 issue: 4, page(s): 257-261, August 1, 1998 |
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Abstract |
Background: Coronary artery disease and disturbances of lipid levels are common in Arab countries. Objective: To assess homocysteine as a cardiovascular risk factor. Method: We compared 133 men with angiographically documented coronary heart disease with 130 age-matched asymptomatic men. Results: Cases had more hypertension and diabetes and higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and homocysteine than did controls. The homocysteine level distribution of cases was shifted toward higher concentrations (P < 0.05) compared with those in controls. When patients with one-vessel, two-vessel, and three-vessel disease were compared, only levels of fibrinogen and homocysteine were associated with the numbers of vessels involved. Homocysteine level was not correlated to fibrinogen and lipid concentrations. A multiple regression analysis revealed that only age (P = 0.06) and smoking (P= 0.04) were marginally related to homocysteine concentrations. Homocysteine concentrations in cases were significantly different than those in controls, even after adjustment for all covariates (P < 0.006). Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia is independently associated with coronary artery disease in Arab men. Furthermore, fibrinogen concentrations are also an important risk factor for Arab men. Keywords: atherosclerosis, homocysteine, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular risk |
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