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Early markers of occult megaloblastosis for low-cost detection of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with ischaemic stroke: preventive approach for primary health care
Citation
Neogi, SS and Thomas, M and Sharma, A and Kumar, J and Khanduri, U, Early markers of occult megaloblastosis for low-cost detection of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with ischaemic stroke: preventive approach for primary health care, Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 92, (1) pp. 713-716. ISSN 0008-4212 (2014) [Professional, Non Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1139/cjpp-2014-0096
Abstract
Recent studies have focussed on the association between elevated homocysteine levels with megaloblastic changes
and thromboembolic events, but the relationship between occult megaloblastosis (with normal haemoglobin levels) and ischaemic
stroke has not been widely explored. The objective of this study is to establish a simple and economical marker for the
detection of occult megaloblastosis at the community health care level in developing countries. A hundred patients who met the
inclusion criteria were studied. At the 5% level of significance, the levels of cobalamin and folate were significantly lower, while
the number of hypersegmented neutrophils on the peripheral smear was higher in patients from Group A (70 patients with high
homocysteine) compared with the patients in Group B (30 patients with normal homocysteine). Forty-five (64.2%) of the
70 patients in Group A showed hypersegmentation of neutrophils in the peripheral smear. The high cost and difficulty in
performing the vitamin assays limit their use as early markers of megaloblastosis. Hence, we conclude that in developing
countries, the detection of hypersegmented neutrophils can be used at the primary healthcare level for early diagnosis of occult
megaloblastosis, so that early therapeutic interventions with vitamins can prevent attacks of hyperhomocysteinemia-induced
ischaemic stroke.
Item Details
Item Type: | Professional, Non Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Occult megaloblastosis, ischaemic stroke |
Research Division: | Biomedical and Clinical Sciences |
Research Group: | Cardiovascular medicine and haematology |
Research Field: | Haematology |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Clinical health |
Objective Field: | Clinical health not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Sharma, A (Dr Archna Sharma) |
ID Code: | 101208 |
Year Published: | 2014 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 1 |
Deposited By: | Medicine |
Deposited On: | 2015-06-12 |
Last Modified: | 2015-06-18 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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