Dtsch Arztebl Int
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The aim of the international Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry was to identify prospectively characteristics, risk factors, treatments, and cardiovascular event rates in stable outpatients with atherothrombotic disease, as well as in asymptomatic patients with risk factors for atherothrombotic disease. ⋯ The traditional risk factors are common in patients with coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke and/or transient ischemic attack), or peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Many patients with these conditions or associated risk factors are not treated according to current guidelines. This may explain, at least in part, the high rates of cardiovascular events observed after one year.
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Vitamin B(12) deficiency is widespread. Among the population groups at risk are older people, vegetarians, pregnant women, and patients with renal or intestinal diseases. The neurological symptoms of vitamin B(12) deficiency are unspecific and can be irreversible. Early detection is therefore important, using the most sensitive and specific markers available. ⋯ Total serum vitamin B(12) is a late, relatively insensitive and unspecific biomarker of deficiency. Holotranscobalamin (holoTC), also known as active B(12), is the earliest laboratory parameter for B(12) deficiency, while methyl malonic acid (MMA) is a functional B(12) marker that will increase when the B(12) stores are depleted. Isolated lowering of holoTC shows B(12) depletion (negative B(12) balance), while lowered holoTC plus elevated MMA and homocysteine indicates a metabolically manifest B(12) deficiency, although there still may be no clinical symptoms. The diagnostic use of holoTC allows treatment to be instituted before irreversible neurological damage occurs. As the first clinical manifestations of vitamin B(12) deficiency are unspecific, those at risk should have their B(12) status checked regularly, every two to three years. Because no randomized controlled trials have yet been completed, the diagnostic and therapeutic measures proposed here are merely recommendations.