Hyperhomocysteinemia and deep-vein thrombosis. A case-control study.

In a case-control study, fasting total homocysteinemia was determined in 208 consecutive outpatients who underwent phlebography because of the first episode of clinically suspected deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) of lower limbs. Contrast venography confirmed the clinical suspicion in 60 patients (28.8%). Hyperhomocysteinemia was detected in 15 of the 60 patients with DVT (25.0%), and in 17 of the 148 subjects without thrombosis (11.5%; p = 0.025). The OR for having an acute DVT in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia was 2.6 (95% CI: 1.1-5.9). It is concluded that high plasma homocysteine levels are significantly associated with DVT in symptomatic patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical implications of this association.