1.
Hypohomocysteinemia: a potentially treatable cause of peripheral neuropathology?
Cullen, CE, Carter, GT, Weiss, MD, Grant, PA, Saperstein, DS
Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America. 2012;(1):59-65, x
Abstract
Perturbations of homocysteine metabolism are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia, and depression, among other major diseases. To assess the relationship between hypohomocysteinemia (HH) and idiopathic peripheral neuropathy (IPN), a retrospective review of 37,442 patients from a tertiary medical clinic was performed. Of patients with HH, 5.9% had IPN versus 0.6% of patients without IPN. Overall, 41% of patients with HH had IPN. These observations indicate that although HH is uncommon in the general population, there is a striking relationship between HH and the incidence of IPN. This article discusses the clinical ramifications of these findings.
2.
Emergent cardiovascular risk factor: homocysteine.
Warren, CJ
Progress in cardiovascular nursing. 2002;(1):35-41
Abstract
Homocysteine is an independent, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is an intermediate amino acid formed during the metabolism of methionine. Plasma homocysteine is normally < or = 12 micromol/L, but when elevated has many deleterious cardiovascular effects. This review explains homocysteine metabolism, the effects of elevated homocysteine, factors contributing to high homocysteine, and its measurement. Risk factors for elevated homocysteine and intervention with B vitamins are discussed. Cardiovascular nurses are encouraged to facilitate homocysteine awareness through a variety of educational means.