Serum/plasma homocysteine levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

摘要

Published studies have shown contradictory results in the association of serum/plasma levels of homocysteine (HCY) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study is to systematically evaluate the association of serum/plasma HCY levels in SLE. A search was done using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases up to 7 April 2019. Thirty-six articles including 2919 SLE patients and 3120 healthy controls were finally included in this meta-analysis. The HCY levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than in healthy controls (P = 35) had significant higher HCY levels in SLE patients than in the healthy controls. The study indicated that patients with disease activity index scores = 8 (P = 0.003) of SLE had significant higher HCY levels as compared with the healthy controls. It was also revealed that disease duration in SLE patients for = 10 years (P = 23) was found as well as measurement type in SLE patients than healthy controls. This meta-analysis demonstrated higher HCY levels in patients with SLE than healthy controls, suggesting a possible role of HCY in the disease.