The effects of tobacco smoke on the homocysteine level--a risk factor of atherosclerosis.

Homocysteine may promote atherogenesis and thrombogenesis. There is evidence from case - control and cross-sectional cohort studies that there is a positive association between plasma homocysteine levels and coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease. There is also some evidence that certain life-style factors such as cigarette smoking may affect homocysteine levels. In this work is presented a review of recent opinion about the influence of tobacco smoking on homocysteine levels.