Hyperhomocysteinemia as a risk factor for stroke

The importance of stroke investigation stipulates by higher prevalence and morbidity of the disease as well as severe disablement of patients. Atherosclerotic plaques and major arteries stenosis, arterial hypertension, arterial aneurisms, etc., are reported to be the most known etiological factors for stroke. Arterial hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, older age, physical activity reduction, obesity, hyperlipoproteinemia with distinct increase of total blood cholesterol and low and very low density lipoproteins are considered as most known risk factors for stroke irrespective of its subtypes. For the last years, an association between intracerebral arteries thrombosis development and abnormal metabolism of amino acid methionine and its metabolite homocysteine has been studied intensively. The article addresses the biochemical aspects of this phenomenon and main etiological causes both of genetic and iatrogenic origin. Much attention is drawn to prevention and treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia. The relationship between a chain of atherosclerotic processes development and oxidative stress activation in relation to cell membrane lipids, extracerebral hyperhomocysteinemia symptoms is shown. Modem mechanisms of hemocoagulation system activation in hyperhomocysteinemia are regarded.