Title: Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia in hypothyroidism
Abstract: • Moderately elevated plasma homocysteine levels ( >12 μmol/L ) are highly prevalent in the general population and are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. • Homocysteine is an amino acid produced during catabolism of the essential amino acid methionine. Metabolism of homocysteine requires an adequate supply of folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6. • Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia may be caused by a variety of factors: chronic disorders (hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic renal failure),nutritional deficiencies(folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 ), drugs (methotrexate, anticonvulsant agents, cyclosporine ), postmenopausal staus,smokers, enzyme deficincies. • Hypothyroidism is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity, which might be explained by the atherogenic lipid profile and/or hyperhomocysteinemia. • We studied plasma homocysteine and folate levels in a group of 25 patients with primary hypothyroidism, before and during levothyroxine treatment. Measurement of plasma homocysteine was performed by ELISA method, during the fasting state and folic acid measurement was by chemiluminiscence . • After achieving euthyroidism, plasma homocysteine and folate were also measured before and after three months of daily folate supplementation. • In some of our patients with plasma homocysteine lower than 10 μmol/L during levothyroxine therapy, a significant decrease of plasma homocysteine levels was achieved after the folate supplementation.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
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