Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with beta-thalassaemia major.

Objective: We investigated the level of homocysteine (HCY) and its relation with vitamin B12, folate and oxidative stress in patients with beta-thalassaemia major.

Methods: Plasma HCY, methionine, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and serum vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined in 32 thalassaemic patients and 27 control subjects.

Results: HCY (6.44+/-0.44 versus 8.71+/-0.57 micromol/L), methionine (12.57+/-1.8 versus 22.2+/-3.8 micromol/L), folate (9.14+/-0.48 versus 15.38+/-0.71 nmol/L) and TAC (0.34+/-0.03 versus 0.56+/-0.03 mmol/L) significantly decreased in thalassaemic patients, whereas AOPP (20.26+/-1.8 versus 11.30+/-0.2 micromol/L) and ferritin (3481.0+/-512 versus 46.9+/-4.6 ng/mL) significantly increased. Vitamin B12 levels were similar in both groups (259.1+/-16.6 versus 228.9+/-7.4 pmol/L).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that increased and uncompensated oxidative stress may lead to an increment in HCY catabolism in thalassaemic patients.