Association between plasma level of homocysteine and cerebral large-artery atherosclerosis

Objective To investigate the association between plasma level of homocysteine(Hcy) and severity of largeartery atherosclerotic stenosis in patients with cerebral ischemic stroke.Methods 269 patients with ischemic stroke undergoing cerebral angiography(DSA) were studied.All patients were divided into two groups according to the finding of DSA.Stenosis group(n=150) included patients with large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis(stenosis ≥50%,at least one of large arteries),and control group(n=119) included patients without artery stenosis or mild grade stenosis(stenosis50%).The levels of Hcy were analyzed in all patients.Results The levels of Hcy in large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis group were higher than that in control group.The ratio of large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis(severity≥50%) was increased gradually with the plasma level of the Hcy(48.6%,53.7%,53.8%,67.2% in different plasma level groups respectively).Multivariable stepwise logistic regression model showed that plasma Hcy level was an independent risk factor of large artery atherosclerotic stenosis(OR=1.071,95%CI:1.004-1.142,P =0.036).Conclusions The elevated of plasma Hcy was significantly correlated with the severity of cerebral large-artery atherosclerosis.Reduce plasma level of Hcy and control other risk factors were equally important.