VITAMIN B6 AND FOLIC ACID ARE RISK FACTORS FOR RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION INDEPENDENTLY OF HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS
Abstract number: P-W-619
Bolli1 P., Sofi1 F., Marcucci1 R., Fedi1 S., Giambene2 B., Sodi2 A., Menchini2 U., Abbate1 R., Gensini3 G., Prisco1 D.
11Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre 22Oto-Neuro Opthalmological Surgical Sciencies, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi 33Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
How-to-cite Bolli P, Sofi F, Marcucci R, Fedi S, Giambene B, Sodi A, Menchini U, Abbate R, Gensini G, Prisco D. VITAMIN B6 AND FOLIC ACID ARE RISK FACTORS FOR RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION INDEPENDENTLY OF HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS. J Thromb Haemost 2007; 5 Supplement 2: P-W-619
Abstract
Introduction: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is one of the most common retinal vascular disorders. Low levels of vitamin B6 are associated with a significant increased risk for venous thromboembolism independently of homocysteine, but no data for patients with RVO have been reported. Aim of this study was to investigate the association among circulating vitamins (folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12), homocysteine (Hcy) and RVO.
Methods: We compared 262 patients [median age: 66 years (15-88); 122 M, 140 F] with 262 age- and sex- comparable healthy subjects. Serum vitamin B6 was measured by HPLC (Immundiagnostic, Germany), serum folate and vitamin B12 by radioimmunoassay (ICN Pharmaceuticals, USA) and Hcy by FPIA method (Abbot, Norway).
Results: Circulating concentrations of vitamin B6, folate and Hcy, but not of vitamin B12, were found to be significantly different in patients as compared to healthy subjects. In order to investigate the possible association between these parameters and the disease we divided the study population into tertiles of their distribution among healthy control group. According to the univariate analysis, the lowest tertiles of vitamin B6 (OR: 4.2, 95%CI 2.7-6.5; p<0.0001) and folate (OR: 6.1, 95%CI 3.8-9.8; p<0.0001), and the highest tertile of Hcy (OR: 12.7 95%CI 7.6-21.3; p<0.0001) were found to be significantly associated with RVO. At multivariate analysis, after adjustment for confounders in three different models, obtained by entering covariates simultaneously or added separately, the lowest tertiles of vitamin B6 (OR: 4.2, 95%CI 2.6-6.9; p<0.0001) and folate (OR: 8.2, 95%CI 4.8-13.9; p<0.0001) and the highest tertile of Hcy (OR: 11.4, 95%CI 6.5-19.8; p<0.0001) maintained their significant association with RVO.
Conclusions: This is the first report demonstrating that low serum concentrations of vitamin B6 and folate independently of high levels of Hcy are related to RVO and suggest that they may play a role in its pathophysiology.
