Clinical significance of measurement of serum homocysteine level in patients with acute coronary syndrome

[Objective] To measure the level of serum homocysteine(Hcy) in patients with acute coronary syndromes(ACS) and to discuss the relationship between serum Hcy level and severity of ACS.[Methods] One hundred and eight ACS patients were divided into two groups:51 cases of unstable angina(UA) and 57 cases of acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Among them 75 ACS patients were divided into one-branch,two-branch and three-branch and above three-branch groups according to the number of affected coronary branches verified by coronary arteriongraphy.Fifty healthy individuals were chosen as normal control.Level of serum Hcy was measured in all groups.[Results] Level of serum Hcy in UA group(15.40±5.51)μmol/L and AMI group(20.39±6.43)μmol/L were significantly higher than that in normal control(10.21±3.61)μmol/L,P0.01.The difference was significant when UA group was compared with AMI group (P0.01).Statistical results from one-factor analysis of variance showed the differences of serum Hcy levels among one-branch group(12.63±5.20)μmol/L,two-branch group(15.40±2.11)μmol/L and three-branch and above three-branch group(21.56±5.89)μmol/L were significant(F=23.803,P0.01).As the number of coronary artery involvement increased levels of serum Hcy rose up,that suggested a positive relationship between patient's serum Hcy level and the number of coronary artery involvement.The differences between control group and one-branch group,one-branch group and two-branch group,two-branch group and three-branch group were all significant(P0.05 or P0.01).[Conclusions] Level of serum Hcy in ACS patients increases significantly if compared with normal control and presents positive relationship with the numbers of coronary artery involvement and severity of ACS.The measurement of serum Hcy level could play an important role in the prevention,treatment and monitoring for ACS.