Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress

REFERENCES tion products correlated with markers of immune activation [1]. 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydrofolic acid, the biologically ac1. Galland R, Traeger J, Arkouche W, et al: Short daily hemodialysis tive cofactor, is very susceptible to oxidation, which may rapidly improves nutritional status in hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int 60:1555–1560, 2001 become relevant under oxidative stress conditions. Im2. Gotch FA: The current place of urea kinetic modelling with respect mune system-derived oxidative stress seems to be crucial to different dialysis modalities. Nephrol Dial Transplant 13(Suppl for folate depletion, resulting in hyperhomocysteinemia 6):10–14, 1998 even when dietary folate is within the recommended range [2]. In coronary artery disease, folate supplementation was found to improve endothelial function earlier than changes of homocysteine concentrations became apparent [4], and also the data of Mezzano et al support the view that hyperhomocysteinemia is an indirect consequence of hyperconsumption of antioxidant vitamins durModerate ing prolonged states of immune activation. Then, hyperhomocysteinemia is not primary in the pathogenesis of hyperhomocysteinemia vascular lesions and thrombotic events. Nevertheless, hyperhomocysteinemia still could contribute to accelerand oxidative stress ate the underlying pathogenic process.