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Homocysteine Levels May Play Role in Raynaud's Phenomenon

Homocysteine may play a role in Reynaud's phenomenon, potentially providing important new clues to the understanding of vasomotor dysregulation.

This is the view of researchers at the University of Vienna, Austria, following an investigation of the concentrations of plasma homocysteine, folate and vitamin B₁₂ in patients with primary or secondary Reynaud's phenomenon (RP).

The vasomotor dysregulation in patients with RP is caused mainly by dysfunction of the endothelium. This current study was prompted by the fact homocysteine has been found to be damaging to endothelial cells.

Dr M. Al-Awami and colleagues from the Department of Medical Angiology and the Clinical Institute for Medical Laboratory Diagnostics measured the concentrations of plasma fasting homocysteine, folate and vitamin B₁₂ in a group of 45 healthy individuals and 26 patients with primary and 42 with secondary RP.

In the healthy controls, median homocysteine levels were 7.9 mumol/L versus 9.8 mumol/L in patients with primary RP and 10.6 mumol/L in those with secondary RP.

Compared with healthy controls, patients with primary and secondary RP had significantly higher homocysteine concentration. This remained the case after researchers took age and sex into account.

In terms of serum levels of vitamin B₁₂ or serum folate levels, there were no significant differences among the three groups.

Thus, RP patients have higher plasma levels of homocysteine than do healthy individuals but similar levels of folate and vitamin B₁₂, which may provide add to understanding of vasomotor dysfunction, conclude these researchers.
Vasa, Seite 87 - 90, Band 31, 2002, Heft 2. "Homocysteine levels in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon"

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