Relation between homocysteine and peripheral vascular atherosclorosis: a brief report

Background: The purpose of this study was evaluation of risk factors of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and effective markers on it.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done during 2010-2011 in the surgical units of Khorramabad Shohada Hospital. Fifty patients who had symptoms of PAD undergoing CT angiography and biochemical markers for them were measured. The investigated variables were family history, site of arterial obstruction, underlying diseases, smoking history, physical activity and stress level. A control group was considered for the study. The comparison was made between these two groups.Results: Aging showed a significant role in prediction of PAD (70% sensitivity and 64% specificity). Homocysteine had the highest sensitivity (80%) in prediction of PAD, compared with other biomarkers. CRP (74% sensitivity) was the best marker that had positive predictive value for PAD. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) showed a significant role in prediction of true positive cases of PAD (72% sensitivity and 74% specificity). HbA1C with 68% sensitivity and 64% specificity and TG with 50% sensitivity and 44% specificity could be considered as factors related with PAD.Conclusion: The levels of C-Reacative protein, homocysteine, and FBS were correlated with PAD, HbA1C and TG levels were associated with PAD, but lower than the previously named markers. In this study a significant relationship between lipoprotein levels and PAD was also observed. PAD was associated with sex and age