Compared to the best medical therapy, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or eversions-endarteriectomy has been identified as preferred treatment for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with high-grade extra cranial carotid stenosis 1.

The long term follow-up of such patients indicates however, that a recurrent stenosis may occur in up to 36% of patients 2, but the incidence of carotid restenosis (CR) is variable and in part dependent on the definition of restenosis and the technique used to calculate its incidence.

Symptomatic or asymptomatic CR is generally attributed to neointimal hyperplasia during the early postoperative period (within 36 months) or recurrent atherosclerosis thereafter 2. Late CR lesions are indistinguishable from primary atherosclerosis. Neointimal hyperplasia is an intensely studied hyperpalstic reaction in the arterial wall. On gross as well as angiographic or duplex ultrasound interrogation, neointimal hyperplasia is generally smooth in appearance. The exact mechanisms for neointimal hyperplasia are still being investigated, but homocysteine seems to contribute to increased neointimal hyperplasia 3.

Homocysteine is a sulfhydryl amino acid. Its precursor, the essential amino acid methionine, is derived from dietary proteins.

The metabolism of homocysteine stands at the intersection of two pathways: remethylation to methionine, which requires folate and vitamin B12 (or betaine in an alternative reaction); and transsulfuration to cystathionine, which requires pyridoxal-5'-phosphate 4.

Normal levels of Homocysteine are between 5 and 15 μmol/L 5. There is however, an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases with plasma homocysteine concentrations above 10 μmol/L 6. Plasma levels between 15 and 30 μmol/L are described as mild hyperhomocysteinemia, levels between 31 and 100 μmol/L are described as moderate and levels above 100 μmol/L are described as severe hyperhomocysteinemia.

Mild hyperhomocysteinemia in fasting conditions can be attributed to any of the following factors: mild impairment in the methylation pathway (i.e. folate or vitamin B12 deficiencies or methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) thermolability), heterozygous cystathionine beta-synthase defect, vitamin B6 deficiency, or due to smoking, nutritional, hormonal and pharmacological factors 78. In addition, pathologic states (e.g. renal insufficiency, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, and lymphoblastic leukaemia) elevate plasma homocysteine levels 9.

Severe hyperhomocysteinemia is due to rare genetic defects resulting in deficiencies in cystathionine beta synthase, MTHFR, or in enzymes involved in methyl-B12 synthesis and homocysteine methylation 10.

An association between the plasma homocysteine concentration and arteriosclerosis has become the subject of many clinical studies, which have consistently linked moderate hyperhomocysteinemia to symptomatic peripheral vascular, cerebrovascular, and coronary heart disease 11.

The mechanism by which hyperhomocysteinemia causes endothelial damage is not known. Early studies with non-physiological high homocysteine levels showed a variety of deleterious effects on endothelial or smooth muscle cells in culture 12.

The damaging effect may be related to oxidative stress because reactive oxygen species are produced during the auto oxidation of homocysteine 13. Free radicals induce lipid per oxidation, oxidation of LDL and further intracellular accumulation of cholesterol. Homocysteine increases proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and inhibits the growth of endothelial cells 14.

It is the focus of this study to investigate whether there is an association between an elevated plasma homocysteine level and a restenosis after CEA.

Routine duplex scan following CEA identified a total of 51 CR patients in the author's hospital (University of Ulm, Department of Vascular Surgery; Germany) that were operated on internal carotid stenosis between 1995 and 2003. As criteria for inclusion in the CR group, patients had at least 50% stenosis but no stenosis within the first three months after operation. 45 patients who did not show CR in a 2 year period after CEA formed a comparative group. All patients were subjected to a postoperative Doppler examination and the postoperative results were recorded. All patients received a thrombocyte aggregation inhibitor or an anticoagulative medication.

Fasting blood samples were taken from each patient at a follow up investigation. Blood was immediately centrifuged (10 minutes, 3000 rpm, 4°C) and plasma samples were stored at -80°C. A fully automated immunoassay for total plasma homocysteine was used to determine the fasting homocysteine level. Furthermore, patients were examined regarding atherosclerosis risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, nicotine abuse, adiposities) as well as use of medication was recorded.

Approval for the study was obtained from the ethical committee of the University of Ulm. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients before examination.

Patients were subjected to a Duplex examination of the carotid arteries with a high-resolution, real time scanner equipped with a 7.5 MHz imaging transducer, a 4 MHz pulse-wave Doppler transducer, and a 4 MHz continuous-wave transducer.

In the following result section, results are shown as absolute values, and when appropriate as percentage, mean, median, and range. Values between groups are compared through application of a two sided Student's t-test. A difference was considered significant at the 0.05 level.

Data from several studies suggest a mild plasma hyperhomocysteinemia as risk factor for occlusive vascular disease and a 25% risk factor for prevalence of extra cranial carotid artery stenosis in both men and women 17. The mechanisms by which homocysteine may cause vascular disease include a propensity for thrombosis and impaired thrombolysis, increased production of hydrogen peroxide, endothelial dysfunction and increased oxidation of low-density lipoproteins and Lp(a) lipoproteins 14.

The empirical investigation in this study was concerned with the role of homocysteine in the development of CR. For that purpose, we compared homocysteine levels in patients who had not developed CR 24 months or more after CEA with homocysteine levels in patients who developed CR after three or more months. Our results suggest no systematic relationship between elevated homocysteine levels and the occurrence of CR.

Limitations of our study include the lack of data on serum folate levels, the lack of a genetic analysis regarding MTHFR, and the fact that we measured fasting homocysteine level only once irrespective of transient fluctuations 18. Further, the patients were sampled between one and four years after CEA and not at the same postoperative time. As with other studies the comparison of results between different labs approved troublesome 19.

Our results are in line with other recent studies that also suggest no systematic relationship between elevated homocysteine levels and the occurrence of CR.

Assadian et al. evaluated the association of plasma homocysteine with early recurrent carotid stenosis following carotid eversion endarterectomy. They found no association of homocysteine with early restenosis 20.

Samson et al. compared homocysteine levels in patients who did not developed CR with those who did within 2 years of CEA. In their study the average homocysteine score for the entire study group was 12.5 μmol/L. The homocysteine values for the subgroups did not differ significantly 21.

Laxdal et al. investigate in a prospective, observational study the effect of elevated serum homocysteine on the likelihood to develop CR after CEA. The authors find a significant association between homocysteine values within the lower two thirds of the normal range and the occurrence of CR 22.

In contrast to that, Southern et al. find in a rat model increasing levels of plasma homocysteine to enhance and accelerated a smooth muscle cell response after CEA leading to increased intimal hyperplasia and luminal stenosis 23. Furthermore, results of a prospective study by Schnyder indicate that homocysteine levels also can predict long-term outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention regarding target lesion revascularization 24. On the other hand homocysteine did not appear to influence the outcome of endovascular intervention after endovascular treatment of the above-knee femoro-popliteal artery 25.

As indicated by the studies above there is no consensus yet in literature whether elevated plasma levels of homocysteine are an independent risk factor for restenosis.

Studies on biological properties of human endothelial cells from different types of vasculature and different locations are warranted, specifically with respect to homocysteine metabolism and its effect. A critical question in this context is whether the relationship between homocysteine levels and outcomes after vascular intervention is of causal nature. Plasma homocysteine could also be significantly correlated with age, serum creatinine, and HDL cholesterol, as well as significantly associated with gender and previous MI 24.

The effects of elevated plasma levels of homocysteine on the rate of CR are contradicting. Our finding suggests that high plasma homocysteine concentrations do not play a significant role in the development of restenosis following CEA. Additional studies are needed to investigate the impact of hyperhomocysteinemia on cardiovascular disease. A critical question in this context is whether the relationship between homocysteine levels and outcomes after vascular intervention is of causal nature. Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine could be a marker, rather than the cause for the respective disease 17.

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

RH collected the samples and inquired data of patients.

AH performed literature review and performed the statistical analysis.

FL conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript.

JZ performed the duplex scan, conceived of the study, permit of ethical committee, helped to draft the manuscript.