Atherosclerosis is a widespread multifactorial disease. Its complications represent the most frequent cause of death in developed countries. Nowadays we know many risk factors which may lead to a rapid progres-sion of atherosclerosis. Hyperhomocysteinémia is one of these factors which is not related to lipid metabo-lism. Many recent epidemiological studies háve suggested that a high blood level of homocysteine is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. The coincidence of hyperhomocysteinémia and other risk fac¬tors of atherosclerosis significantly increases morbidity and mortality. Substitutional therapy with folie acid, vitamin B6 and B|2 deereases the blood level of homocysteine.

        Key words: homocysteine, hyperhomocysteinémia, cerebral stroke, primary and secondary prevention