Relationship of plasma homocysteine and fibrinogen and the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in patients with cerebral infarction

Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma levels of homocysteine(Hcy) and fibrinogen(Fg) and the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods On the basis of carotid ultrasonography,70 patients with cerebral infarction were divided into three groups of A(14 cases without plaque),B(34 cases with unstable plaque) and C(22 cases with stable plaque).Plasma Hcy and Fg were measured.Results Plasma Hcy and Fg in group B were(21.76±9.82) μmol/L and(3.78±0.58) g/L,respectively,which were higher than(16.79±3.56) μmol/L and(3.52±0.42) g/L in group C and(14.09±3.05) μmol/L and(3.12±0.36) g/L in group A(P0.05 or P0.01).The incidence rate of carotid atherosclerotic unstable plague increased as plasma levels of Hcy and Fg increased.Conclusion The formation and stability of carotid therosclerotic plaque are closely related to plasma levels of HCY and Fg.