Homocyst(e)ine and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: John W. Eikelboom, Eva Lonn, Salim Yusuf
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2000)

Letters18 April 2000Homocyst(e)ine and Cardiovascular DiseaseJohn W. Eikelboom, MBBS, FRACP, Eva Lonn, MD, FRCPC, and Salim Yusuf, MBBS, DPhil, FRCPCJohn W. Eikelboom, MBBS, FRACPMcMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Eikelboom)McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Lonn)McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Yusuf)Search for more papers by this author, Eva Lonn, MD, FRCPCMcMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Eikelboom)McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Lonn)McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Yusuf)Search for more papers by this author, and Salim Yusuf, MBBS, DPhil, FRCPCMcMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Eikelboom)McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Lonn)McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Yusuf)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-132-8-200004180-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:To our knowledge, incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with pernicious anemia has not been specifically examined. However, although folate is the most important determinant of plasma homocyst(e)ine, there is clearly also an inverse relation between cobalamin and plasma homocyst(e)ine (1). Pernicious anemia is the most common cause of cobalamin deficiency (2), and because the plasma homocyst(e)ine level is elevated in more than 95% of patients with pernicious anemia (3), an increased risk for cardiovascular disease might reasonably be expected in patients with pernicious anemia if an elevated homocyst(e)ine level is truly causally associated with an increased risk ...References1. Selhub J, Jacques PF, Wilson PW, Rush D, Rosenberg IH. Vitamin status and intake as primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population. JAMA. 1993;270:2693-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Toh BH, van Driel IR, Gleeson PA. Pernicious anemia. N Engl J Med. 1997;20:1441-8. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. Savage DG, Lindebaum J, Stabler SP, Allen RH. Sensitivity of methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine determinations for diagnosing cobalamin and folate deficiencies. Am J Med. 1994;96:239-46. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Eikelboom)McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Lonn)McMaster University; Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada (Yusuf) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoHomocyst(e)ine and Cardiovascular Disease: A Critical Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence John W. Eikelboom , Eva Lonn , Jacques Genest Jr. , Graeme Hankey , and Salim Yusuf Homocyst(e)ine and Cardiovascular Disease Alan S. Feiner Metrics 18 April 2000Volume 132, Issue 8Page: 676KeywordsBlood plasmaCardiovascular diseasesCobalaminsFolic acidPernicious anemia Issue Published: 18 April 2000 CopyrightCopyright © 2000 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...