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Summary.  Background: Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia and B vitamins deficiency are thought to be risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The causality and independence of those associations are still questioned. Methods: We measured fasting serum total homocysteine, folates, and vitamin B12 levels as well as 5,10‐methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotypes in 467 patients hospitalized with a first well‐documented deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism not related to a major acquired risk factor and 467 controls matched for gender and age. Results: Mild hyperhomocysteinemia, low serum folates, and vitamin B12 were associated with VTE independently of each other. In multivariate analysis, odds ratios (OR) (95% CI) for VTE associated with mild hyperhomocysteinemia (>15 μmol L−1), low serum folates (≤ 4.9 nmol L−1), and vitamin B12 (≤ 253 pmol L−1) were 1.48 (1.05–2.08), 3.14 (1.35–7.32) and 1.42 (1.03–1.98), respectively. An MTHFRC677T genotype was not significantly associated with VTE; OR (95% CI): 1.13 (0.70–1.81) Conclusions: The current data provides further knowledge in the complex relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia, low vitamin levels, and VTE.

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Background: Many studies have suggested an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with mild hyperhomocysteinemia. The C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene has recently been described as a cause of mild hyperhomocysteinemia.Objectives: To investigate the potential of the C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene in its homozygous state as a risk factor for VTE. Methods: Case-control study design. The presence of the mutation was determined in all consecutive patients referred from July 1994 to September 1997 and in whom the diagnosis was duly confirmed. Analysis was carried out in a subgroup of VTE patients free from both acquired and genetic risk factors (factor-V mutation and/or prothrombin gene mutation). A control group consisted of 105 volunteer blood donors. Results: In the 366 patients with a confirmed VTE, 253 presented acquired risk factors and 58 were carriers of the factor-V Leiden mutation and/or G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene. In the remaining 55 patients, VTE was considered as ’unexplained’, and the frequency of the C677T mutation MTHFR was 21.8% in its homozygous state and 34.5% in its heterozygous state. In the control group, 9.5% were found homozygous and 34.3% heterozygous. The odds ratio for having VTE in the presence of the mutation in its homozygous state was 2.9 (95% CI 1.0–8.6). Conclusion: This study suggests that the homozygous C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene might be a risk factor of VTE in patients with spontaneous events and without other common genetic risk factors.

The results of the Stewart-Fencl approach for interpretation of acid-base status can vary according to the analyzer used. These differences may have important clinical and research implications..

The tear film of patients with keratoconus contains higher levels of telopeptides than those of control subjects. Determination of telopeptide levels in tears could be useful for the follow-up of keratoconus development in patients.

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