The relationship between hyper homocysteinemia and intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Objective To study the relationship and clinical meaning between the level of plasma homocysteine and intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Methods A total of 92 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease experienced cerebral digital subtraction angiography( DSA) were selected. The patients were divided into intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis group and intracranial and extracranial artery without stenosis group according to their DSA findings.Three groups were categorized by distribution of artery lesion sites and the degree of artery stenosis. The homocysteine concent rations in each group were analyzed. Results The patients with intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis group had significantly higher blood Hcylevels than those without intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis group( P 0. 05). For the different groups of artery lesion sites:the proportion of subjects with high level of plasma homocysteine was not significantly different( P 0. 05). The level of Hcy in patients with severe artery stenosis were significantly higher than those in patients with moderated artery stenosis( P 0. 05). Conclusion The hyper homocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cerebral vascular stenosis,and no selectivity for intracranial or extracranial artery injury. The level of plasma homocysteine is correlated with the severity of cerebral vascular stenosis.