Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia and the Increased Risk of Venous Thromboembolism

Abstract

THE ROLE of mild to moderate hyperhomocyst(e)inemia (hyper-Hcy) in the development of vascular disease has been documented and reviewed extensively.^1-5 Unlike some thrombophilia defects, hyper-Hcy is associated with both venous⁶ and arterial⁷ thrombosis. In a recent meta-analysis, including 9 published studies, Ray⁶ found that hyper-Hcy was a significant risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 2.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.08-4.17).^8,9 In the subgroup analysis, the OR appeared to be higher among patients with VTE before 60 years of age (OR, 4.13; 95% CI, 1.25-13.72).⁶