Relation between plasma homocysteine change and ateriosclerosis in different kinds of elderly hypertensive patients

Objective To study the relation between plasma homocysteine(Hcy) change and ateriosclerosis in different kinds of elderly hypertensive patients.Methods One hundred and sixty-seven hypertensive patients admitted to our department or who visited our outpatient department,included in this study,were divided into simple systolic hypertension group(n=79) and double phase hypertension group(n=88).Fifty-five healthy old subjects undergoing health check served as a control group.Their plasma Hcy level,carotid artery intim-media thickness(IMT) and ankle brachial index(ABI) were measured and compared.Results A significant difference was found in smoking,diastolic pressure and serum LDL-C level among the 3 groups(P0.05).The serum Hcy level and carotid artery IMT were significantly higher whereas the ABI was significantly lower in simple systolic hypertension group and double phase hypertension group than in control group(P0.05),and were significantly higher in simple systolic hypertension group than in double phase hypertension group(P0.05).Conclusion The serum Hcy level is significantly higher in simple systolic hypertension patients than in double phase hypertension patients and is positively related with ateriosclerosis.Serum Hcy level should be decreased while hypertension is controlled in elderly simple systolic hypertension patients.