Plasma homocysteine and retinal artery occlusive disease: A case-control study

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented that elevated plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease. In a case-control study, we sought to determine whether elevated homocysteine (HCY) is a risk factor for retinal artery occlusive disease PATIENTS AND METHODS: Study subjects consisted of 20 patients (12 male, 8 female) (mean age, 55.8; range 42–70 years) with clinical and objective evidence of retinal vascular occlusive disease and 20 age-matched control subjects (9 males, 11 females) (mean age, 55.3 years; range 50–68 years). Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as a plasma HCY level >15 μmol/L by HPLC. We also measured concentrations of triglycerides, and total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. RESULTS: The mean plasma HCY level in the patient group was 21.23±9.53 μmol/L (range, 8.00–43.99 μmol/L) compared with 12.59± 4.97 μmol/L (range, 6.38 to 22.88 μmol/L) in the control group (P<0.008). There was no correlation between HCY and serum triglycerides or cholesterol levels within each group. We conclude that high plasma HCY level may be a risk factor for retinal artery occlusive disease.