Abstract: Objective To determine the association between homocysteine and severity of large cerebral artery atherosclerosis .Methods 152 ischemic stroke patients were evaluated using transcranial Doppler (TCD)，magnetic resonance angiography ( MRA) or digital substraction angiography (DSA) Severity of cerebral artery atherosclerosis was scaled by number of stenosed or occluded artery . Results-There were 83 patients in low level homocysteine group with mean Hcy level 15.31±3.08?mol/L, while 69 patients in high level homocysteine group with mean Hcy 34.47±21.38?mol/L . Number of diseased intra- and extra- artery was 1.86±1.51 and 1.52±1.46 respectively. No significant difference was demonstrated in the number of diseased artery between two groups. No correlation was noted between Hcy and number of diseased artery.Conclusions-There was no association between high homocysteine and severity of large cerebral artery atherosclerosis in ischemic stroke patients. Homocysteine might be the marker of the disease.

Key words: Homocystine, Homocystine, Atherosclerosis