RT Journal
A1 Wilson PF
T1 Homocysteine and coronary heart disease: How great is the hazard?
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2002
FD October 23
VO 288
IS 16
SP 2042
OP 2043
DO 10.1001/jama.288.16.2042
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.16.2042
AB 
In this issue of THE JOURNAL, 2 meta-analyses critically review the
coronary heart disease (CHD) risks related to blood levels of homocysteine
and a common variant of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a gene that is known to be an important regulator of homocysteine
metabolism.1- 2 The authors summarize
data on the potential effects of this genetic variant and plasma homocysteine
levels on CHD risk and conclude that the risks are increased modestly. While
the authors do not recommend new approaches to evaluate persons at risk for
CHD, the study findings do provide a perspective on how scientists assess
the utility of newer biomarkers and genetic factors that may contribute to
CHD risk.