IS HYPERHOMOCYSTEINAEMIA A RISK FACTOR FOR RECURRENT VENOUS THROMBOSIS

Several studies have shown a relation between hyperhomocysteinaemia an d arterial Vascular disease. We looked at the association between hype rhomocysteinaemia and Venous thrombosis which could be clinically impo rtant as hyperhomocysteinaemia is easily corrected by Vitamin suppleme ntation. We studied 185 patients with a history of recurrent venous th rombosis and 220 controls from the general population. Homocysteine co ncentrations were measured before and 6 h after oral methionine loadin g. We defined hyperhomocysteinaemia as the homocysteine concentration above the fasting or the postmethionine Value found for the 90th perce ntile of the controls. Of the 185 patients with recurrent thrombosis, 46 (25%) had fasting homocysteine concentrations above the 90th percen tile or the controls (odds ratio is 3.1 [1.8-5.5]). After adjustment f or age, sex, and menopausal status the odds ratio was 2.0 (1.5-2.7). S imilar results were found for the post-methionine Value (unadjusted od ds ratio 3.1 [1.7-5.5], adjusted 2.6 [1.9-3.5]). Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a common risk factor for recurrent Venous thrombosis and can lead to a two-fold or three-fold increase in risk.