Introduction: Increased levels of homocysteine are known to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The most common form of genetic hyperhomocysteinemia results from MTHFR polymorphisms. To examine the role of homocysteine levels and MTHFR polymorphisms in premature CAD and acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the Cypriot population, a case control study was performed in Nicosia General Hospital.
Methods: Sixty-three male patients less than 50 years old who presented with MI in Nicosia General Hospital were compared with 54 controls without CAD. Fasting homocysteine and lipids were tested within 24 hrs from admission, while MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms were also tested.
Results: Mean homocysteine levels were 14.5 mol/L in patients and 12.3 mol/L in controls (p=0.017). Mutant homozygous MTHFR C677T was present in 17.7% of the patients and 19.2% of the controls (p=0.838), while mutant homozygous MTHFR A1298C was found in 16.1% of patients and 13.5% of controls (p=0.690). Mean homocysteine levels were 12.6 mol/L in patients with single-vessel CAD and 15.5 mol/L in patients with multi-vessel CAD (p=0.025). Lower HDL appeared to be associated with higher levels of homocysteine with an odds ratio of 0.901, indicating that for each unit increase in HDL, the expected odds of having high homocysteine levels decreased by approximately 10%.
Conclusions: Higher levels of homocysteine are associated with acute MI and multi-vessel disease in Cypriot patients under the age of 50. The existence and extent of disease are not associated with MTHFR polymorphisms. Lower HDL is associated with higher levels of homocysteine.