Association between plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels with thrombotic diseases in Syrian patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folic acid in Syrian patients with thrombotic diseases.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study on patients with hyperhomocysteinemia associated with a thrombotic disease at the National University Hospital of Damascus, Syria, comprising 133 thrombosis patients (84 males, 49 females; aged 20-80 years) and 39 matched healthy controls. Vitamin B12 and folic acid profiles were analyzed, and homocysteine ≥15 μmol/l was considered as hyperhomocysteinemia.

RESULTS

Patients with thrombosis exhibited significantly higher levels of homocysteine compared to controls (38.93 ± 19.91 μmol/l versus 8.13 ± 2.42 μmol/l, respectively, P < 0.001). Additionally, they had lower levels of vitamin B12, with values of 159.19 ± 57.66 pg/ml compared to 521.26 ± 58.08 pg/ml in controls ( P < 0.001), and they had lower levels of folic acid compared to controls (5.14 ± 4.07 ng/ml versus 11.33 ± 2.17 ng/ml, respectively, P < 0.001). Moreover, hyperhomocysteinemia was the single vascular risk factor retrieved in 21.1% (28/133) of patients, with no other identified conventional risk factors.

CONCLUSION

This study concludes that hyperhomocysteinemia is considered a strong and independent risk factor for thrombotic diseases and is strongly associated with vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies.