Abstract: Objective · To study the relationship between homocysteine (HCY) in plasma and carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly patients and its clinical significance. Methods · The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries and the sclerotic lesions at the carotid arteries bulbs were evaluatedcolor Doppler ultrasonography in 99 elderly in-patients (65 years old or above). Fasting venous blood was drew the patients for the determination of plasma HCY and other indexes. According to the plasma HCY concentration, the patients were divided into two groups, i.e., control group (HCY<15 μmol/L) and high HCY group (HCY ≥ 15 μmol/L). General clinical data, carotid plaque number, plaque thickness, plaque stability and carotid IMT were investigated in the two group of patients. Results · The numbers (P0.015), stability (P0.013) and thickness (P0.001) of carotid plaques between the two groups were significantly different. After balancing the effects of agethe partial correlation analysis, plasma HCY concentration was positively correlated with the number (partial correlation coefficient0.133, P0.049), instability (partial correlation coefficient0.046, P0.023) and thickness (partial correlation coefficient0.119, P0.024) of carotid plaques. Nevertheless, the difference in the IMT of carotid arteries between the two groups was not significant (P0.057). Conclusion · Plasma HCY concentration is correlated with the number, stability and thickness of carotid plaques.

Key words: carotid atherosclerosis, homocysteine (HCY), atheromatous plaque, intima-media thickness (IMT)