Objectives: To explore the relationship between homocysteine and various hematological indices
in hemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods: This casecontrol study comprised 60 hemodialysis patients and 60 healthy controls
matched for gender and age. Hemodialysis duration was 3.2±2.9 year at frequency of
2.6±0.6/week. Hypertension and diabetes were the most common selfreported disorders
among the hemodialysis patients. Results: Serum homocysteine was significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in controls
(50.8±9.7 vs. 13.1±3.7 μmol/l, P=0.000). White blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT)
counts were significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in controls [(7.18±2.37
×109/L and 266.3±111.9 ×109/L vs 5.95±1.37 ×109/L and 222.0±54.1 ×109/L) with P=0.017 and P=0.045, respectively]. In contrast, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin,
and hematocrit were significantly lower in hemodialysis patients (3.1±0.5 ×1012/L, 8.9±1.5 gm/dl and 26.3±4.6%) than in controls (4.0±0.4 ×1012/L, 12.8±1.6 gm/dl and 45.0±4.6%) with P=0.000. Prothrombin time (PT) and international
normalized ratio (INR) were significantly higher in hemodialysis patients compared
to controls (16±3 sec and 1±0 vs. 14±0 sec and 1.0±0.1, P=0.000), whereas activated
partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly decreased in hemodialysis patients
(25±5 vs 33±2 sec, P=0.000). Homocysteine correlated directly with WBC count (r=0.338,
P=0.008) and PLT count (r=0.369, P=0.000) whereas inverse correlations were found
between homocysteine and RBC count (r=- 0.648, P=0.000), hemoglobin (r=-0.733, P=0.000)
and hematocrit (r=-0.836, P=0.000). In addition, homocysteine showed direct correlations
with PT (r=0.564, P=0.000) and INR (r=0.657, P=0.000) and inverse correlation with
APTT (r=-0.690, P=0.000). Conclusion: Serum homocysteine was significantly higher in hemodialysis patients compared to
controls. Homocysteine correlated directly with WBC count, PLT count, PT and INR,
and inversely with RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and APTT.
Key-words:
Homocysteine - Hematological indices - Hemodialysis patients - Gaza Strip
