Homocysteine and Vascular Disease / Edition 1

by K. Robinson

Overview

This is an important and timely volume. The history of research in homocysteine metabolism can be divided into three periods. The first phase was the exploration of the individual reactions and metabolites that characterize the transmethylation and transsulfuration sequences. The former originated with his description of the biosynthesis of methylpyridine and culminated in the work of Cantoni and Axelrod. Similarly the finding that insulin contained cystine was a potent catalyst for the metabolic and nutritional studies of Rose and du Vigneaud. The description and the definition of homocystinuria, a rare inherited meta­ bolic disorder, marked the beginning of the second historical period. Where previously there had been few laboratories located largely in the United States soon there were numerous research groups representing many nationalities. The more intense focus led to major advances, both in the laboratory and in the clinics. Studies of afflicted individuals, when combined with investigations in experimental animals, provided the basis for a concept of methionine metabo­ lism that encompassed both transmethylation and transsulfuration. The central role of homocysteine was apparent.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780792362487
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	04/30/2000
Series:	Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine , #230
Edition description:	2000
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

Robinson, Killian (Cleveland Clinic Foundation)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction.- 2. Historical Aspects of the Relationship Between Homocysteine and Vascular Disease.- 3. Biochemistry and Metabolism Donald.- 4. Reference Ranges for Homocysteine Concentrations.- 5. Determinants of Plasma Homocysteine.- 6. Epidemiology of Homocysteine Levels and Relation to Vitamins.- 7. Vascular Pathology of Hyperhomocysteinemia.- 8. Vascular Complications of Homocystinuria: Incidence, Clinical Pattern and Treatment.- 9. Homocysteine as a Risk Factor for Peripheral Vascular Disease.- 10. Homocysteine as a Risk Factor for Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke.- 11. Homocysteine as a Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease.- 12. Homocysteine and Family History of Coronary Artery Disease.- 13. Homocysteine as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease in Women.- 14. Homocysteine and Venous Thrombosis.- 15. Homocysteine and Renal Disease.- 16. Molecular Biology of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR): Interrelationships with Folic Acid, Homocysteine and Vascular Disease.- 17. Molecular Biology of Methionine Synthase: Interrelationships with Homocysteine and Vascular Disease.- 18. Molecular Biology of Cystathionine ß-Synthase: Interrelationships with Homocysteine, Pyridoxine, and Vascular Disease Warren.- 19. Homocysteine and Cholesterol: Basic and Clinical Interactions.- 20. Homocysteine and Coagulation Factors: Basic Interactions and Clinical Studies.- 21. Homocysteine and Endothelial Dysfunction.- 22. The Treatment of High Homocysteine Concentrations in Homocystinuria: Biochemical Control in Patients and their Vascular Outcome.- 23. An overview of the homocysteine lowering clinical trials.- 24. Summary and Future Directions for Epidemiological, Preventive and Basic Research.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: John F. Moran, MD (Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine)
Description: This text contains 24 chapters on all aspects of homocysteine and vascular disease. It is an important text bringing together all data currently available on homocysteine. In the forward, this text is described as being positioned between the second and third periods of the homocysteine research.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide a useful reference on homocysteine. There are results on trials and basic studies on homocysteine for anyone wishing to come up-to-date in this area. The contributors writing the chapters are, for the most part, those people internationally who have done some of the original research.
Audience: This text is written for non-workers in the field of homocysteine. Cardiologists and specialists in coronary disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebral vascular disease would find important information here.
Features: The editor begins with a definition of nomenclature. Homocysteine can appear in three different forms, and they are all combined for purposes of these studies. The congenital disease, homocystinuria, is associated with marked elevations of the homocysteine and premature vascular disease. The current treatment is folic acid and vitamins B12 and B6. The editor also describes elevations of homocysteine associated with atherogenesis and thrombosis. Premature vascular disease in the setting of chronic renal insufficiency maybe related to elevated levels of homocysteine. Homocysteine is associated with differences in gender, increasing age, and certain drugs such as methotrexate. There are chapters in which homocysteine is described in the progression of atherosclerosis in coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease, and all available information is reviewed. The slender evidence for a cholesterol interaction and coagulation factor interaction is provided in detail. Each chapter contains a summary of the material in the chapter and includes direction for interested readers. The text is well illustrated with diagrams and tables to focus on points in the text.
Assessment: This book is a discussion of the difficulties with homocysteine research at the moment. Atherosclerosis may be caused by many factors, and one of these may be homocysteine, but normal reference ranges for homocysteine do not exist. There is a need for standardization of plasma homocysteinie determinations. The editor was principal investigator for the European COMAC group and their study was reported in Circulation in 1998 (Volume 97:437-443). The editorial accompanying that issue suggested that everyone should be on 400 micrograms of folic acid or more daily. With that recommendation, homocysteine is clearly an important topic. This text is a single source of up-to-date information and research in this area. It is an important contribution

Doody's Review Service

4 Stars! from Doody

This text contains 24 chapters on all aspects of homocysteine and vascular disease. It is an important text bringing together all data currently available on homocysteine. In the forward, this text is described as being positioned between the second and third periods of the homocysteine research. The purpose is to provide a useful reference on homocysteine. There are results on trials and basic studies on homocysteine for anyone wishing to come up-to-date in this area. The contributors writing the chapters are, for the most part, those people internationally who have done some of the original research. This text is written for non-workers in the field of homocysteine. Cardiologists and specialists in coronary disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebral vascular disease would find important information here. The editor begins with a definition of nomenclature. Homocysteine can appear in three different forms, and they are all combined for purposes of these studies. The congenital disease, homocystinuria, is associated with marked elevations of the homocysteine and premature vascular disease. The current treatment is folic acid and vitamins B12 and B6. The editor also describes elevations of homocysteine associated with atherogenesis and thrombosis. Premature vascular disease in the setting of chronic renal insufficiency maybe related to elevated levels of homocysteine. Homocysteine is associated with differences in gender, increasing age, and certain drugs such as methotrexate. There are chapters in which homocysteine is described in the progression of atherosclerosis in coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease, and all available information is reviewed.The slender evidence for a cholesterol interaction and coagulation factor interaction is provided in detail. Each chapter contains a summary of the material in the chapter and includes direction for interested readers. The text is well illustrated with diagrams and tables to focus on points in the text. This book is a discussion of the difficulties with homocysteine research at the moment. Atherosclerosis may be caused by many factors, and one of these may be homocysteine, but normal reference ranges for homocysteine do not exist. There is a need for standardization of plasma homocysteinie determinations. The editor was principal investigator for the European COMAC group and their study was reported in Circulation in 1998 (Volume 97:437-443). The editorial accompanying that issue suggested that everyone should be on 400 micrograms of folic acid or more daily. With that recommendation, homocysteine is clearly an important topic. This text is a single source of up-to-date information and research in this area. It is an important contribution

John F. Moran

‘The book is therefore a great reference for an up-to-date review of any one of the many pathways involved in homocysteine metabolism. The editor should be applauded for bringing together some of the leaders in the field of homocysteine research and thus compiling a comprehensive review that should be on the shelf of any scientist working in the area of homocysteine.'
Clinical Chemistry, 47:6 (2001)

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