Routine determination of homocysteine in plasma. A new and improved possibility for risk evaluation and diagnosis of common diseases
Ulvik, R.J.; Ueland, P.M.; Refsum, H.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 112(23): 2977-2980
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 1412348 Document Number: 399397
The performance of a rapid, fully automated HPLC assay for total homocysteine in plasma has made it possible to offer this analysis as a routine laboratory test. The reference interval in fasting individuals is 7-14 mu-mol/l. In EDTA-plasma, homocysteine remains stable for up to four days at room temperature. The most important indications for analysing homocysteine are deficiency of vitamin B-12 or folate, premature cardiovascular disease and inherited homocystinuria. The clinical usefulness of the assay is based on the fact that the intracellular metabolism of homocysteine is dependent on vitamin B-12, folate and vitamin B-6. Moreover, homocysteine may be an atherogenic agent, and there is increasing evidence that a high level of homocysteine in plasma is an independent risk factor for developing premature atherosclerotic disease.