Homocysteine, factor VII and antithrombin III in subjects with different gene dosage for cystathionine beta-synthase.

Cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency results in severe homocysteinaemia, precocious arteriosclerosis and frequent thromboembolism. In addition, antithrombin III activity and factor VII are low. Arteriosclerosis seems to be increased in heterozygotes as well (cystathionine beta-synthase gene dosage 50%) but rare in Down syndrome (cystathionine beta-synthase gene dosage 150%). In the present study total plasma homocysteine was high in three homozygotes, slightly increased in 20 obligate heterozygotes but not reduced in nine subjects with Down syndrome when compared to controls. After methionine loading, increases of homocysteine were pathologically high in 14 of 20 heterozygotes but was not, as expected, low in subjects with Down syndrome. Antithrombin III activity and factor VII antigen tended to be low in homozygotes but were normal in heterozygotes. In Down syndrome antithrombin III activity was reduced and factor VII antigen normal. There were no correlations between levels of homocysteine, antithrombin III activity and factor VII antigen. Thus, subjects with Down syndrome seem not to exhibit the expected gene dosage effect on homocysteine metabolism which could explain their reduced proneness to develop arteriosclerosis, nor do antithrombin III activity or factor VII antigen seem to be related to homocysteine metabolism.