A study of serum homocysteine levels in acute myocardial infarction patients

Myocardial infarction is a major consequence of coronary artery disease. In addition to the traditional risk factors of myocardial infarction, hyperhomocysteinemia has emerged as major factor. Plasma homocysteine level was determined in 30 myocardial infarction patients and 20 age matched healthy individuals. Statistically significant differences (p<0.01) were observed in the mean of plasma homocysteine concentrations between the acute myocardial infarction patients (25.89 ± 6.18mM/L) and normal healthy individuals (13.83 ± 3.51 mM/L). Homocysteine in myocardial infarction patients was seen to be significantly high (p <0.01) when compared to that of the controls. The study indicated a strong association between plasma homocysteine and acute myocardial infarction, which establishes plasma homocysteine as a key risk factor for myocardial infarction.