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Thromb Haemost 2007; 98(02): 457-463
DOI: 10.1160/TH07-02-0138
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The risk of venous and arterial thrombosis in hyperhomocysteinaemia is low and mainly depends on concomitant thrombophilic defects

Willem M. Lijfering
1   Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
,
Michiel Coppens
2   Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Marlène H. W. van de Poel
1   Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
,
Saskia Middeldorp
2   Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Karly Hamulyák
3   Department of Hematology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
Ivan Bank
2   Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Nic J. G. M. Veeger
1   Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
,
Martin H. Prins
4   Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
,
Harry R. Büller
2   Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Jan van der Meer
1   Division of Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Rheology, Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations Financial support: This study was supported by the Dutch Heart Foundation (Grant no: 99.187). The funder had no role in the design and conduct of the study, collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 22 February 2007

Accepted after revision 08 April 2007

Publication Date:
28 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

As homocysteine-lowering treatment has not reduced the risk of recurrent thrombosis in recent clinical trials, we hypothesized that mild hyperhomocysteinaemia is an epiphenomenon or associated with a low absolute risk of thrombosis. In this retrospective study, we enrolled 478 evaluable first-degree relatives of consecutive patients with venous thrombosis or premature atherosclerosis, and hyperhomocysteinemia. Absolute risks of thrombosis and effects of concomitant thrombophilic defects were compared. Relative risks were adjusted for clustering in families, age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors, where appropriate. Annual incidence of venous thrombosis was 0.16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.30) in hyperhomocysteinemic relatives versus 0.11% (CI, 0.05–0.20) in normohomocysteinemic relatives; adjusted relative risk 1.6 (CI, 0.6–4.5). Annual incidences of arterial thrombosis were 0.34% (CI, 0.21–0.52) and 0.24% (CI, 0.15–0.37) in hyperhomocysteinemic and normohomocysteinemic relatives, respectively; adjusted relative risk 1.5 (CI, 0.6–3.5). Concomitance of multiple thrombophilic risk factors increased the risk of venous thrombosis in hyperhomocysteinemic relatives 20 fold, but a comparable effect was demonstrated in normohomocysteinemic relatives. We conclude that hyperhomocysteinaemia is associated with a low absolute risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. Concomitant thrombophilic defects are probably main determinants on the risk of venous thrombosis, rather than hyperhomocysteinaemia itself.

Keywords

Clinical studies - risk factors - venous thrombosis - arterial thrombosis - thrombophilia
 

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