Unsuspected hyperhomocysteinemia in chronically anticoagulated patients

• Published in: Blood coagulation & fibrinolysis Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 79
• Main Authors: Murúa, A, Quintana, I, Galarza, C, Alfie, J, Kordich, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.2001
• Subjects: Aged; Anticoagulants - adverse effects; Anticoagulants - blood; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Diet - standards; Folic Acid - blood; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; Hyperhomocysteinemia - blood; Hyperhomocysteinemia - chemically induced; Middle Aged; Vegetables; Vitamin K - blood; Vitamin K - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0957-5235
• DOI: 10.1097/00001721-200101000-00012

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasmatic homocysteine levels in patients under chronic anticoagulant treatment with dietary restriction of green vegetables. This kind of food is a very important source not only of vitamin K but also of folates, which are involved in Hcy metabolism. It is known that the lower the folate levels, the higher the Hcy concentration, so we suspected that these patients could show hyperhomocysteinemia. A group of patients receiving oral anticoagulant treatment and a restricted diet (Group I, n = 20) was compared with a group of untreated subjects of a similar age that were not on a restricted diet (Group II, n = 35). Group I showed significantly higher levels of plasmatic Hcy and significantly lower levels of serum folate than Group II. Therefore, a diet restricted in vitamin K applied to oral anticoagulated patients could induce an unwanted increase of homocysteine levels.