PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS

Increased risk of arterial and venous thromboembolic disease is well d ocumented in the homocystinuric patient. There is growing evidence tha t hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for premature art eriosclerotic disease, including cerebral, peripheral, and coronary va scular diseases. So far no association has been established between hy perhomocysteinemia and venous thromboembolism. We studied 35 patients, young adults (age less than 56 years) with venographically and/or ult rasonographically verified deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Patients with coexisting diseases were excluded. Plasmahomocysteine levels before a nd after intake of methionine were measured 3 months or more after the time of diagnosis and compared with 39 control subjects. We found no significant difference in plasmahomocysteine levels between the young adults with deep venous thrombosis and control subjects. This indicate s that hyperhomocysteinemia is not a frequent cause of DVT.