Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia is a pathological condition that increases cardiovascular risk due to prothrombotic behaviour in the patient. This case report concerns a 61-year-old man undergoing surgical coronary revascularization for early thrombosis of the venous graft. The postoperative antithrombin activity was extremely low (33%), despite normal preoperative values (79%) and a short cardiopulmonary bypass. At a subsequent screening, the patient was diagnosed with hyperhomocysteinemia (18.4 μmol/L) due to a heterozygous C677T mutation of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase associated with a folate deficiency. Hyperhomocysteinemia and cardiac operation are both factors that induce increased thrombin formation, which may induce antithrombin consumption and a consequent thrombotic event. Further studies are needed to define hyperhomocysteinemia as an independent risk factor for thrombotic events after cardiac surgery.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 439-442 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Minerva Anestesiologica |
Volume | 74 |
Issue number | 7-8 |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2008 |
Keywords
- Antithrombins
- Cardiopulmonary bypass
- Coronary artery disease, surgery
- Homocysteine
- Myocardial infarction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine