Homocysteine (Homocysteinemia)

Sample
- This test can be done on the serum of the patient.
- Separate serum immediately and freeze within one hour.
- This can be detected in the urine.
Precautions
- 10 to 12 hours of fasting before the test is required.
- Patients with renal diseases will have an increased level of homocysteine. This is due to poor excretion of the protein.
- The patient with a low intake of Vit.B has increased the level of homocysteine.
- Men have a higher level than women.
- Smoking will lead to a higher level of homocysteine.
- Drugs increase Homocysteine levels like methotrexate, nitrous oxide, phenytoin, and carbamazepine.
- Oral contraceptives influence the level.
Why homocysteine is measured (Indications):
- To diagnose homocystinuria.
- This is done to measure the plasma level of homocysteine (homocysteinemia).
- It is done to find genetic or acquired homocysteine excess.
- The patients with risk to develop folate deficiency and cobalamin.
- In patients with unexplained anemia.
- Recurrent spontaneous abortion.
- Delayed development or failure to survive in infants.
- In cases of peripheral neuropathy and myelopathy.
- For the evaluation of cardiovascular disease.
- In which patients homocysteine to be estimated:
- This can be used for the surveillance of malnutrition.
- In vegetarians who are not taking a supplement of B12.
- In old patients above the age of 75 years.
- The patient on the treatment of antiepileptic drugs and methotrexate.
- Homocysteine in a patient with coronary disease:
- In patients <40 years of age with a history of cardiovascular disease to exclude homocysteinemia.
- The patients who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease should be tested every 3 to 5 years
- How often homocysteine should be tested:
- This may be measured every 3 to 5 years.
- In newborns at the age of 3 to 5 days.
Pathophysiology
- Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid.
- It is formed during the metabolism of methionine.
- It requires folic acid as a cofactor.
- It may be catabolized to cysteine in the presence of Vitamin B as a cofactor.
- Homocysteinemia is the elevation of homocysteine in the blood.
- Homocysteinemia may be due to:
- Genetic predisposition.
- Nutritional and environmental factors.
- Specific medications.
- Amino acids are naturally made products, which are the building blocks of all the proteins in the body.
- Homocysteine is an intermediate amino acid formed during the metabolism of methionine.
- Vitamins are the cofactor involved in the metabolism of Methionine to homocysteine.
- Folic acid acts as a cofactor.
- The common non-genetic elevated level of homocysteine, the cause is a deficiency of B6, B12, or folate.
- So homocysteine blood level is helpful in the diagnosis of deficiency of these vitamins.
- In megaloblastic anemia patients, homocysteine levels may be increased before other abnormal tests are found.
- Homocysteine may be used as an early indicator of these patients and treatment can be started early.
- Homocysteine normally does not accumulate in the blood because it is unstable in aqueous solution, and when it is present in excess, undergoes oxidation to homocystine.
- Homocysteine also appears to cause:
- Increased atherosclerosis by causing damage to the endothelial lining.
- Increased LDL deposition.
- Increase vascular smooth muscle growth.
- Increased risk for vascular diseases.
- Increased risk of venous thrombosis.
- Increased risk for pregnancy complications and neural tube defects.
- The patient with increased homocysteine has 5 times more risk of stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Increased homocysteine level is also a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures in older men and women.
- Raise the level of homocysteine is increased the risk of coronary artery disease and thrombosis.
- Homocysteinemia >15 µmol/L leads to:
- Increased atherosclerosis.
- Although lipoproteins are normal.
- In absence of other risk factors.
- Increased atherosclerosis.
- Increased atherosclerosis by causing damage to the endothelial lining.
- Some researcher believes that these patients may be treated by giving vitamins B6, B12, and folate.
- Affected children suffer from homocystinuria and had very premature increased atherosclerosis in early age.
Clinical Presentation
- Increased Homocysteine is associated with:
- Various vascular and cardiovascular diseases.
- The birth defects.
- Complications in the pregnancy.
- Psychiatric disorders.
- Mental impairment in old people.
Normal
Homocysteine
Source 2
- Fasting level = 4 to 14 µmol/L (0.54 to 2.3 mg/L).
Source 4
- 4 to 17 µmol/L
Another source
- 13 to 18 µmol/L for serum
- 10 to 15 = µmol/L for plasma
- Children = 3.7 to 10.3 µmol/L
Urine
- Negative
Interpretations
- Normal less than 15 µmol/L
- Moderate increase = 5-30 µmol/L.
- Intermediate increase = 30-100 µmol/L.
- Severe disease = >100 µmol/L.
Increased Homocysteine is seen in:
- Folic acid deficiency.
- Vit.B12 deficiency.
- Cardiovascular diseases.
- Cerebrovascular diseases.
- Peripheral vascular diseases.
- Malnutrition.
- Homocystinuria.