Association between cholesterols, homocysteine and silent brain infarcts

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between total plasma homocysteine, cholesterol levels, vitamin B12, folate, thyroid hormones, urea, ferritin, uric acid, C-reactive protein, cardiovascular risk factors and silent brain infarct (SBI) in patients without any neurological disorder. Whether the factors of interest were associated with SBI is investigated. Methods One hundred and forty-two subjects with a mean age of 52.1 ± 13.1 years (21-87 years) without any history of stroke, transient ischaemic attack and neurological abnormality were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and blood chemistry determinations. Student's t-test was used to compare differences in means of laboratory results between the groups with and without SBI. The ?2-test was used for categorized variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of SBI. Results The group comprised 56 men and 86 women. SBI were found in 40 patients (28%). The low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher in the infarct group (P = 0.019), homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in the men-infarct group (P = 0,029) and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the women-infarct group than the women non-infarct group (P = 0.006). Conclusion Serum low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and homocysteine levels were associated with SBI. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.