Homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 serum levels in hemodialysis patients referring to hemodialysis unit of Jahrom hospital

Homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 serum levels in hemodialysis patients referring to hemodialysis unit of Jahrom hospitalSotoodeh Jahromi A1,2, Farjam MR*3, Shojaei M4Received: 09/25/2010Revised: 01/27/2011Accepted: 01/29/20111. Dept. of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran2. Research Center for Zoonotic Diseases, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran 3. Dept. of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran4. Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IranJournal of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Vol. 9, No. 1, Spring 2011 AbstractIntroduction:Homocysteine is an amino acid yielded from methionin to cysteine metabolism. Increased level of homocysteine can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Several factors such as uremia, genetic factors, dialysis related factors and vitamin B group deficiency lead to increased plasma level of homocysteine in dialysis patients. This study aimed to evaluate plasma levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid in Jahrom hemodialysis patients.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 43 hemodialysis patients and 43 age and sex matched healthy individuals without any underlying renal disease as control group during December 2008 and September 2009. The serum level of homocysteine was measured using ELISA method and the serum levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured by radioimmunoassay method.Results:Comparing the patients with the control group, there were significant differences between the two groups in mean serum levels of homocysteine (22.709±5.765 μmol/L vs. 16.518±5.425 μmol/L), folic acid (513.814±15.378 ng/ml vs. 22.976±7.462 ng/ml) and vitamin B12 (5366.814±1734.752 pg/ml vs. 868.907±251.484 pg/ml) (P<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between mean serum level of homocysteine and duration of hemodialysis therapy (r=0.893, P<0.001).Conclusion:Although in the present study the homocysteine level in the patients was more than that of the healthy subjects, it was lower than that of hemodialysis patients in other countries.