Unsuspected hyperhomocysteinemia in chronically anticoagulated patients

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis. T he aim of this study was to evaluate plasmatic homocysteine levels in patie nts under chronic anticoagulant treatment with dietary restriction of green vegetables. This kind of food is a very important source not only of vitam in K but also of folates, which are involved in Hey metabolism. It is known that the lower the folate levels, the higher the Hey concentration, so we suspected that these patients could show hyperhomocysteinemia. A group of p atients receiving oral anticoagulant treatment and a restricted diet (Group 1, n = 20) was compared with a group of untreated subjects of a similar ag e that were not on a restricted diet (Group II, n = 35). Group I showed sig nificantly higher levels of plasmatic Hey and significantly lower levels of serum folate than Group II. Therefore, a diet restricted in vitamin K appl ied to oral anticoagulated patients could induce an unwanted increase of ho mocysteine levels. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.