Assessing plasma total homocysteine in patients with end-stage renal disease

Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, in light of several recent randomized trials, the issue of causality has been cast into doubt. Patients with end-stage renal disease are particularly interesting as they consistently have elevated tHcy and their leading causes of morbidity and mortality are related to cardiovascular disease. In the present article, we review the early evidence for the homocysteine theory of atherosclerosis, homocysteine metabolism, mechanisms of toxicity, and pertinent available clinical investigations. Where appropriate, the sparse evidence of homocysteine in peritoneal dialysis is reviewed. We conclude by addressing the difficulties associated with towering plasma tHcy in patients with end-stage renal disease and suggest some novel methods for towering tHcy in this resistant population. Finally, to address the issue of causality, we recommend that clinicians and scientists await the results of the FAVORIT trial before abandoning homocysteine as a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as this study has recruited patients from a population with consistently elevated plasma tHcy who are known to respond to vitamin therapy.