J Lipid Atheroscler.  2013 Jun;2(1):27-35. 10.12997/jla.2013.2.1.27.

Association of Plasma Homocysteine Level and Arterial Stiffness in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Hwang JY
• Jung CH
• Lee MJ
• Kang YM
• Lee WJ
• Park JY

• KMID: 2095092
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12997/jla.2013.2.1.27

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is considered to be a marker of endothelial dysfunction and a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is not only a marker of vascular damage but a significant predictor of CVD. Previous studies about the effect of high plasma Hcy levels on arterial stiffness have yielded inconsistent results. We therefore assessed the association between Hcy and baPWV in a relatively large number of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).
METHODS
We retrospectively assessed plasma Hcy concentration and arterial stiffness in 1,477 Korean type 2 diabetic patients. Participants were also evaluated for plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), duration of DM, microvascular complications, lipid profile, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Arterial stiffness was measured noninvasively by baPWV.
RESULTS
Correlation analysis indicated a significant positive association between serum Hcy levels and baPWV (r=0.245, p<0.001). In a multiple linear regression analysis, the association between serum Hcy levels and baPWV was independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (standardized beta=3.8, p=0.01).
CONCLUSION
The results support the hypothesis that plasma Hcy levels are associated with arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 DM. Prospective studies are warranted to determine whether lowering serum Hcy level could reduce arterial stiffness and cardiovascular morbidity in type 2 DM.

Keyword

Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Homocysteine; Arterial stiffness

MeSH Terms

C-Reactive Protein
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Glucose
Hemoglobins
Homocysteine
Humans
Linear Models
Plasma
Pulse Wave Analysis
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Vascular Stiffness
C-Reactive Protein
Glucose
Hemoglobins
Homocysteine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Correlation between plasma Hcy level and baPWV in the study subjects (r=0.245, p<0.001) baPWV: brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity

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