Increased homocysteine plasma level is associated with shortened prothrombin time in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

Objective: To find factors associated with increased homocysteine plasma level in HIV-infected patients.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out as a supplementary task to the standard care of HIV-infected patients. The possible association of increased homocysteine plasma level with blood analyses results was assessed with a multiple linear regression analysis, using the automatic linear modeling available in SPSS version 22.

Results: A total of 145 patients were included. Creatinine was higher than normal in 7 patients (5%), prothrombin time was shortened in 36 patients (25%), and a monoclonal gammopathy was detected in 2 patients (1%). In the regression analysis, an association was found between high homocysteine plasma level and the following variables: low prothrombin time (β coefficient −0.286, confidence interval −1.1854 to −0.754, p < 0.001), high creatinine (coefficient 9.926, confidence interval 6.351–15.246, p < 0.001), low folic acid (coefficient −0.331, confidence interval −0–483 to −0.187, p < 0.001), and low vitamin B₁₂ (coefficient −0.007, confidence interval −0.01 to −0.001, p = 0.005).

Conclusion: An association was found between increased homocysteine plasma level and shortened prothrombin time.

Keywords:

• Prothrombin time
• homocysteine
• HIV-infection