Lack of correlation between plasma homocysteine levels and cerebral microangiopathy in patients with transient ischemic attacks

Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate cerebral MRI findings in patients with atherothrombotic transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and its correlation with plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels. Patients and methods. A total of 62 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of TIA of atherothrombotic origin were studied. MRI examinations were performed in all patients for the evaluation of the presence of infarct and/or white matter hyperintensities (WMHI). Plasma Hcy levels were determined according to the method described by Smolin and Schneider modified. Results. Plasma Hey levels were significantly (p < 0.036) higher in patients with MRI-detected infarcts (9.69 +/- 2.06 mu mol/l) compared with patients without infarcts (8.65 +/- 1.7 mu mol/l. There was no correlation (p < 0.33) between plasma Hcv levels and the presence or absence of WMHI seen on MRI. Conclusions. In TIA patients, plasma Hey levels were significantly higher in patients with cerebral infarcts, but did not correlate with the presence of WMHI. Our results suggest that mild hyperhomocysteinemia would be associated with large-medium vessel rather than with small vessel disease.