Hyperhomocysteinemia

Overview

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a raised level of the amino-acid homocysteine in the blood. Even a mild increase irritates blood-vessel lining and encourages clots, steadily driving up the chance of stroke, heart attack and deep-vein thrombosis. It can also complicate pregnancy.

At The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, Aylesbury you benefit from rapid testing, consultant-led treatment plans and ongoing monitoring in one place.

Why It Matters — Future Health Risks

• Ischaemic stroke – sticky blood and damaged vessel lining make brain-artery blockages more likely.
• Heart disease – accelerated atherosclerosis raises the risk of heart attack and angina.
• Peripheral vascular disease – poor leg circulation can cause pain on walking and slow wound healing.
• Venous thrombosis & pulmonary embolism – higher clotting tendency in deep veins.
• Cognitive decline – several studies link raised homocysteine to faster memory loss.
• Pregnancy complications – greater rates of pre-eclampsia, placental abruption and neural-tube defects.

Early diagnosis and simple vitamin therapy can cut these dangers dramatically.

Signs to Look for and Common Causes

Hyperhomocysteinemia itself rarely produces direct symptoms. You might instead notice or be told you have:

• Migraine-like headaches or visual aura
• Unexplained clots (DVT, PE, retinal vein occlusion)
• A family history of early stroke or coronary disease
• Recurrent pregnancy loss or pre-eclampsia

Underlying causes include:

• Low intake or poor absorption of folate, vitamin B₁₂, vitamin B₆
• MTHFR gene variants that slow homocysteine breakdown
• Kidney disease, hypothyroidism or psoriasis
• Medicines such as methotrexate, some antiepileptics, long-term proton-pump inhibitors
• High-protein diets with few leafy greens

When to Arrange An Assessment

Book a consultation if you:

• Suffered a stroke, TIA, heart attack or DVT under 60 years of age
• Plan pregnancy after previous complications or carry a known MTHFR mutation
• Follow a vegan or restrictive diet without B-vitamin supplementation
• Take medication known to raise homocysteine and have other cardiovascular risks

Timely treatment can normalise levels within weeks.

Test & Monitor

Specialist review – detailed discussion of personal and family history, diet and lifestyle.

Fast-turnaround laboratory testing – fasting homocysteine, full blood count, renal profile and vitamins B₁₂/B₆/folate; most results return in 24 hours.

Advanced imaging when required – CT angiography or carotid Doppler to check for arterial disease via our CT Suite.

Targeted genetic screening – offered when family patterns suggest inherited risk.

Weekly multidisciplinary review – cardiology, haematology, nutrition and rehabilitation specialists refine your personal plan.

Treatment and lifestyle support

• High-dose folic acid plus vitamins B₁₂ and B₆ – first-line therapy that can lower homocysteine by up to 30 % in three months.
• Betaine supplements – added if levels stay high despite B-vitamins.
• Medication optimisation – switching or adjusting drugs that raise homocysteine wherever possible.
• Heart-protective medicines – statins, antihypertensives or anticoagulants prescribed according to your overall risk profile.
• Nutrition counselling – Design meal plans rich in leafy greens, legumes and fortified wholegrains.
• Stroke-prevention coaching – smoking cessation, weight management and supervised exercise with our team.

Follow-up blood tests track your progress and fine-tune supplementation.

Why Choose Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital?

Rapid results – laboratory turnaround typically within 24 hours.

Integrated expertise – testing, medical management, dietetics and rehab in one location.

Personalised prevention – we combine lab markers, imaging and genetics to create your individual stroke-risk score.

Comfort & convenience – private ensuite rooms, free parking and easy access from Oxford, Milton Keynes and London.

Call 01296 678 800 or enquire online to book an appointment or discuss your needs.