Change of the level of plasma homocysteine in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Objective To explore change and clinical significance of the level of plasma homocysteine (HCY) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) . Methods All subjects consisted of 116 consecutively hospitalized patients with DCM, including 92 male and 24 female, aged from 18 to 70 years old with average age (47.4 ± 12.7) years, and another 30 age and sex matched patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (non-attack period, without organic heart disease) as controls. Electrocardiogram, chest X-ray and echocardiography were routinely performed, as well as thyroid function and biochemical tests, and coronary arteriography when necessary. The diagnosis of DCM was confirmed by exclusion of hypertension, coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, etc. Blood samples were obtained to determine plasma HCY and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels at the next morning after admission of the patients with DCM or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. A retrospective analysis was carried out. Results Plasma HCY level of patients in DCM group was significantly higher than that in control group (P <0.01) . Correlation analysis showed that plasma HCY level was positively correlated with heart function and plasma BNP level (r = 0.667, P <0.01) , and was significantly correlated with left ventricular diastolic diameter and end-systolic diameter (r =0.498, P <0.01; r =0.462, P <0.01) , and was negatively correlated with ejection fraction (r =-0.55, P <0.01) . Conclusion Plasma HCY level was associated with the severity of heart failure and was positively related to plasma BNP level, providing a novel indicator for the evaluation of chronic heart failure. Key words: Homocysteine; Cardiomyopathy; Heart function