Hyperhomocysteinemia, folateo and B۱۲ vitamin in Iranian patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of some factors suchas serum levels of homocysteine, folate and B۱۲ vitamin with stroke in acute ischemic strokepatients.METHODS: In this case control study, serum levels of homocysteine, folate and B۱۲ vitamin in۹۳ patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital betweenSeptember ۲۰۰۸ and January ۲۰۱۰, and ۹۳ healthy controls were measured. Cerebrovascularrisk factors including age, sex, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus,alcohol consumption, coronary artery disease and obesity were recorded. The results werecompared between the case and control groups.RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of fasting total homocysteine (tHcy) level inacute ischemic stroke patients was ۲۰.۵۸ ± ۱۹.۶ ۰mol/L, which was significantly higher thanthat of control group being ۱۴.۱۱ ± ۹.۵ ۰mol/L (P = ۰.۰۰۲). ۳۹ (۴۱.۹%) stroke cases and ۲۵(۲۶.۸%) controls had hyperhomocysteinemia. There were no significant relationships betweentHcy, folate and B۱۲ vitamin levels with the above mentioned cerebrovascular risk factors exceptfor smoking (p> ۰.۰۵). No significant difference in B۱۲ vitamin and folate levels betweenpatients and healthy controls were detected (P> ۰.۰۵).CONCLUSION: Hyperhomocysteinemia is common in Iranian patients with acute ischemicstroke and might play a role as an independent risk factor in stroke.Keywords: Stroke, Homocysteine, B۱۲ Vitamin, Folate.