Homocysteine Levels in Patients with Hemorrhagic Stroke

Abstract

Purpose: Accumulating data demonstrated that raised homocysteine is a risk factor for ischemic stroke. However, it remains unclear whether high homocysteine level is also a risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke, which accounts for about one-fifth of stroke patients. Our aim was to measure the plasma homocysteine levels in patients with hemorrhagic stroke to explore a possible link. Materıals and Methods: We included thirty patients with ischemic stroke, thirty patients with hemorrhagic stroke, and thirty healthy volunteers. All participants were examined for traditional risk factors and levels of folic acid, homocysteine, and vitamin B12. Results: Hypertension was higher in both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke patients than in healthy participants (p=0.029). Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke groups than in the control group (p=0.001), with no statistically difference between each other (p>0.05). Vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke patients than in the controls (p=0.001), with no statistically difference between each other (p>0.05). Folic acid levels did not significantly differ between the groups (p>0.05). We did not find correlation between homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our study indicated that the homocysteine levels were high in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Larger cohorts are needed to clarify the role of homocysteine in hemorrhagic stroke.

Keywords

• hemorragic stroke
• homocysteine
• vitamin b12
• folic acid