Purpose: Cancer is a cause of venous thromboembolism. However, the physiopathology remains unknown. Hyperhomocysteinemia could be a promoting factor.
Method: We built a case-control study of 65 patients followed for 2 years to compare levels of homocystéinémie in cancer bearing patients with that in matched cancer free control patients.
Results: Fifty per cent of cancer bearing patients had significantly increased blood serum levels of homocystéine (P=0.006). This increase did not correlate with any deficiency in blood serum levels of folate or vitamin B12.
Conclusion: High levels of homocystéinémie could be linked to tumor proliferation.