Objective: Our objective is to estimate the level of Hcy ,vitamin B12 , folic acid with motor and non-motor symptoms in HD patients in school adolescent of urban South Delhi city.

Background: Juvenile Huntington disease (JHD) is a rare clinical entity characterized by an age at onset younger than 20 years. Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by progressively worsening motor, cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric symptoms. Homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid and vitamin B12 plays important role in both immune and nervous system.

Method: The study group included sixty four school adolescent HD patients with onset before or at age 18 years who carried an abnormal CAG repeat expansion in the HD gene. Those patients with duration of illness more than 14 days and those who had steroid therapy or vitamin B12 or folic acid supplements earlier were excluded. Serum level of Hcy, folic acid and vitamin B12 with HD -related motor and non-motor indicators using Spearman rank correlation and electro chemiluminescence immune assay method.

Results: Significant difference was found regarding the serum Hcy levels between HD patients (drug users) and controls (P=0.005) and more severe motor symptoms. HD patients on polytherapy showed higher mean serum levels of Hcy and lower mean serum levels of folic acid compared to those on monotherapy. However, the mean serum levels of Hcy, vitamin B12 and folic acid showed non significant differences between patients using risperidone or tiapride. Duration of JHD drug therapy showed a significant positive correlation with mean serum levels of Hcy and a significant negative correlation with mean serum levels of folic acid. The most remarkable signs at onset were severe cognitive disturbances (64.5%); rigidity was absent. Elevated serum Hcy was also associated with non-motor symptoms.

Conclusion: The elevation of serum Hcy and the deficiencies of vitamin B12 and folic acid was linked with JHD severity, motor symptoms, and non-motor symptoms. Iinterventional prospective studies on vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation in HD patients should be conducted in the future.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/study-of-relationship-between-homocysteine-folic-acid-and-vitamin-b12-levels-in-serum-of-juvenile-hd-children/