Interlaboratory Variability for Total Homocysteine Analysis in Plasma

摘要

Total plasma homocysteine consists of free homocysteine and homocysteine that is complexed with itself or with other amino acids or proteins. Free homocysteine has been measured previously as part of a biochemical screen for inherited metabolic disorders. More recently, increased total plasma homocysteine has been suggested as an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease [reviewed in Ref. (1)]. In addition, increased total homocysteine is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with angiographically demonstrated coronary artery disease(2). These studies have prompted clinicians to include total homocysteine analysis as part of the risk assessment profile of patients with premature coronary artery disease. However, it has …