PREVALENCE OF FAMILIAL MILD HYPERHOMOCYSTEINEMIA

Previous studies have shown that elevated basal homocysteine levels ar e correlated among family members of patients with coronary vascular d isease and juvenile venous thrombosis. This suggests the possibility o f the presence of inherited basal mild hyperhomocysteinemia (mHH). We studied homocysteine levels, fasting as well as after methionine load, among 96 family members of 21 post-load hyperhomocysteinemic vascular index patients, i.e. 6 parents, 27 offspring, 38 siblings, 19 uncles and aunts and 6 cousins. In 15 out of 21 screened families post-load m HH was established in at least one family member. Fasting and post-loa d mHH was observed in 19 out of 89 (21%) screened family members (fast ing homocysteine levels not measured in seven family members), and 31 out of 96 screened family members (32%), respectively. In 40% of all f amily members, post-load mHH was not accompanied by fasting mHH. We co nclude that both fasting and post-load mHH seems to be inherited in th e majority of hyper-homocysteinemic vascular patients.