Hyperhomocysteinemia, obesity and cryptogenic stroke

BACKGROUND: The pathogenic role of hyperhomocysteinemia in cryptogenic stroke is not well established. We aimed to determine homocysteine levels in patients with cryptogenic stroke considering the possible variables that may act as confounders and analyze the influence of obesity on this association. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in 123 patients with cryptogenic stroke aged 42 ± 12 years and in 153 control subjects aged 42 ± 13 years. Serum homocysteine was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. RESULTS: Patients showed statistically higher levels of homocysteine, creatinine and higher BMI than controls (p = 0.045, p = 0.014, p = 0.013), respectively.…