The risk of venous and arterial thrombosis in hyperhomocysteinaemia is low and mainly depends on concomitant thrombophilic defects

Willem M. Lijfering; Michiel Coppens; Marlène H. W. van de Poel; Saskia Middeldorp; Karly Hamulyák; Ivan Bank; Nic J. G. M. Veeger; Martin H. Prins; Harry R. Büller; Jan van der Meer

doi:10.1160/TH07-02-0138

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2007; 98(02): 457-463
DOI: 10.1160/TH07-02-0138

New Technologies, Diagnostic Tools and Drugs

Schattauer GmbH

The risk of venous and arterial thrombosis in hyperhomocysteinaemia is low and mainly depends on concomitant thrombophilic defects

Authors

Willem M. Lijfering

¹Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Michiel Coppens

²Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Marlène H. W. van de Poel

¹Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Saskia Middeldorp

²Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Karly Hamulyák

³Department of Hematology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Ivan Bank

²Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Nic J. G. M. Veeger

¹Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Martin H. Prins

⁴Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Harry R. Büller

²Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jan van der Meer

¹Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Abstract

Summary

As homocysteine-lowering treatment has not reduced the risk of recurrent thrombosis in recent clinical trials, we hypothesized that mild hyperhomocysteinaemia is an epiphenomenon or associated with a low absolute risk of thrombosis. In this retrospective study, we enrolled 478 evaluable first-degree relatives of consecutive patients with venous thrombosis or premature atherosclerosis, and hyperhomocysteinemia. Absolute risks of thrombosis and effects of concomitant thrombophilic defects were compared. Relative risks were adjusted for clustering in families, age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors, where appropriate. Annual incidence of venous thrombosis was 0.16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.30) in hyperhomocysteinemic relatives versus 0.11% (CI, 0.05–0.20) in normohomocysteinemic relatives; adjusted relative risk 1.6 (CI, 0.6–4.5). Annual incidences of arterial thrombosis were 0.34% (CI, 0.21–0.52) and 0.24% (CI, 0.15–0.37) in hyperhomocysteinemic and normohomocysteinemic relatives, respectively; adjusted relative risk 1.5 (CI, 0.6–3.5). Concomitance of multiple thrombophilic risk factors increased the risk of venous thrombosis in hyperhomocysteinemic relatives 20 fold, but a comparable effect was demonstrated in normohomocysteinemic relatives. We conclude that hyperhomocysteinaemia is associated with a low absolute risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. Concomitant thrombophilic defects are probably main determinants on the risk of venous thrombosis, rather than hyperhomocysteinaemia itself.

Keywords

Clinical studies - risk factors - venous thrombosis - arterial thrombosis - thrombophilia

Full Text

References

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