Elevated levels of homocysteine can be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A meta-analysis of 27 epidemiological studies, including more than 4000 patients, estimates that a 5 umol/L increase in total homocysteine was associated with an odds ratio for coronary artery disease of 1.6 (95% CI, 1.4 to 1.7) for men and 1.8 ((95% CI, 1.3 to 1.9) for women; the odds ratio for cerebrovascular disease was 1.5 (95% CI, 1.3 to 1.9). The risk associated with a 5 umol/L increase in total homocysteine was the same as that associated with 0.5 mmol/L increase in cholesterol.
Severely elevated concentrations of total homocysteine are found in subjects with homocystinuria, a rare genetic disorder of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of homocysteine. Patients with homocystinuria exhibit mental retardation, early atherosclerosis and arterial and venous thromboembolism. Other less severe genetic defects which lead to moderately elevated levels of total homocysteine are also found.
Lipids/Trace Metals
HOMO
EDTA only. Collect on ice and separate within 4 hours. Different reference intervals for fasting /non fasting, thus record fasting status on request form.
Sample needs to be keep on ice
Collected on ice, separate within 4 hours, cannot be left unseparated.
Store frozen
Not generally possible as sample would not have been collected and processed as required.
Homocystine
1 week
3316