Abstract
Increased levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) may play a role in both cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and old-age dementias via enhancement of vascular inflammation. However, the association between plasma tHcy and serum C-reactive protein (sCRP), taken as a marker of low-grade inflammation, is still uncertain. We investigated this association in normal aging, CVD, and dementia, and examined whether it was modified by the presence of two major comorbid diseases of older age: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPOD) and peptic ulcer (PU). Six hundred-twenty-seven individuals aged ≥ 65 yr (74±7 yr) were selected for this study: 373 healthy controls; 160 patients with CVD but no evidence of comorbid diseases (CVD+/comorbidity-); 46 patients with CVD and concurrent CPOD and/or PU (CVD+/comorbidity+); and 48 patients with dementia. A positive association between plasma tHcy and serum CRP, independent of several confounders (socio-demographic status, known tHcy and sCRP determinants, inflammation markers, traditional vascular risk factors), was found for CVD+/comorbidity+(p=0.042) and dementia (p=0.001; not affected by dementia type), but not for CVD+/comorbidity- and controls. The results suggest that the association between plasma tHcy and sCRP is more an aspecific reflection of poor health than a specific correlate of vascular inflammation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 443-450 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Experimental Gerontology |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2004 |
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Keywords
- Ageing
- Atherosclerosis
- Cardiovascular disease
- Comorbidity
- Dementia
- Inflammation
- Plasma total homocysteine
- Serum C-reactive protein
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ageing
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Plasma homocysteine and inflammation in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease and dementia. / Ravaglia, G.; Forti, P.; Maioli, F.; Servadei, L.; Martelli, M.; Arnone, G.; Talerico, T.; Zoli, M.; Mariani, E.
In: Experimental Gerontology, Vol. 39, No. 3, 03.2004, p. 443-450.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Plasma homocysteine and inflammation in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease and dementia
AU - Ravaglia, G.
AU - Forti, P.
AU - Maioli, F.
AU - Servadei, L.
AU - Martelli, M.
AU - Arnone, G.
AU - Talerico, T.
AU - Zoli, M.
AU - Mariani, E.
PY - 2004/3
Y1 - 2004/3
N2 - Increased levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) may play a role in both cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and old-age dementias via enhancement of vascular inflammation. However, the association between plasma tHcy and serum C-reactive protein (sCRP), taken as a marker of low-grade inflammation, is still uncertain. We investigated this association in normal aging, CVD, and dementia, and examined whether it was modified by the presence of two major comorbid diseases of older age: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPOD) and peptic ulcer (PU). Six hundred-twenty-seven individuals aged ≥ 65 yr (74±7 yr) were selected for this study: 373 healthy controls; 160 patients with CVD but no evidence of comorbid diseases (CVD+/comorbidity-); 46 patients with CVD and concurrent CPOD and/or PU (CVD+/comorbidity+); and 48 patients with dementia. A positive association between plasma tHcy and serum CRP, independent of several confounders (socio-demographic status, known tHcy and sCRP determinants, inflammation markers, traditional vascular risk factors), was found for CVD+/comorbidity+(p=0.042) and dementia (p=0.001; not affected by dementia type), but not for CVD+/comorbidity- and controls. The results suggest that the association between plasma tHcy and sCRP is more an aspecific reflection of poor health than a specific correlate of vascular inflammation.
AB - Increased levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) may play a role in both cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and old-age dementias via enhancement of vascular inflammation. However, the association between plasma tHcy and serum C-reactive protein (sCRP), taken as a marker of low-grade inflammation, is still uncertain. We investigated this association in normal aging, CVD, and dementia, and examined whether it was modified by the presence of two major comorbid diseases of older age: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPOD) and peptic ulcer (PU). Six hundred-twenty-seven individuals aged ≥ 65 yr (74±7 yr) were selected for this study: 373 healthy controls; 160 patients with CVD but no evidence of comorbid diseases (CVD+/comorbidity-); 46 patients with CVD and concurrent CPOD and/or PU (CVD+/comorbidity+); and 48 patients with dementia. A positive association between plasma tHcy and serum CRP, independent of several confounders (socio-demographic status, known tHcy and sCRP determinants, inflammation markers, traditional vascular risk factors), was found for CVD+/comorbidity+(p=0.042) and dementia (p=0.001; not affected by dementia type), but not for CVD+/comorbidity- and controls. The results suggest that the association between plasma tHcy and sCRP is more an aspecific reflection of poor health than a specific correlate of vascular inflammation.
KW - Ageing
KW - Atherosclerosis
KW - Cardiovascular disease
KW - Comorbidity
KW - Dementia
KW - Inflammation
KW - Plasma total homocysteine
KW - Serum C-reactive protein
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1342265391&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=1342265391&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.exger.2003.11.005
DO - 10.1016/j.exger.2003.11.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 15036404
AN - SCOPUS:1342265391
VL - 39
SP - 443
EP - 450
JO - Experimental Gerontology
JF - Experimental Gerontology
SN - 0531-5565
IS - 3
ER -