Cardiovascular disease among patients with type 2 diabetes: role of homocysteine as an inflammatory marker

Abstract

It is known that inflammation has a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases; measurement of inflammatory markers improves the risk prediction of cardiovascular diseases. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been correlated with the occurrence of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes; though it is unclear whether hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for these conditions. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the role of homocysteine in type 2 diabetes patients with cardiovascular disease in a population of Madhya Pradesh India. Total 100 type 2 diabetes patients were included in the study, of these 50 had angiographically proven cardiovascular disease and 50 had no evidence of it. High sensitivity C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and lipoprotein (a) were measured in serum. Homocysteine, blood glucose in plasma, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, glycated haemoglobin were measured in whole blood. A albumin excretion rate, creatinine clearance rate were measured in the urine sample for renal function. It was shown that, levels of homocysteine and other inflammatory markers were elevated significantly in the group II (n = 50). A correlation between hyperhomocysteinemia and inflammatory markers in patients with impaired renal function was observed. It was concluded that impairment of renal function is a key factor that affects homocysteine level.