MTHFR C677T polymorphism, homocysteine, burden, and location of AMI and ACI.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between homocysteine levels and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms and acute ischemic vascular events and focused on the differential effects of the MTHFR C677T polymorphisms on the burden and location of AMI and ACI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 102 acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who were admitted to the First Hospital of Jilin University in northeast China as the patient group, 83 healthy people who were hospitalized during the same period served as a control group. MTHFR C677T genotypes were identified via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Fluorescent Probe Method.

RESULTS: Patient group had higher serum homocysteine levels (p=0.013), lower serum folic acid (p<0.001), and Vit B12 levels (p=0.004) compared to the control group. Homocysteine levels in the patient group with the TT genotypes of the MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were higher than those with the CC and CT genotypes (p<0.05). Folic acid levels in the patients with TT genotypes were lower than those with the CC genotypes (p<0.05), but not in the control group (p>0.05). There were negative and significant associations between serum homocysteine levels and serum vitamin B12 levels in the control group (r=-0.234, p=0.033), but not between serum homocysteine levels and serum folic acid levels (r=-0.103, p=0.355). Conversely, there was a negative and significant association between serum homocysteine levels and serum folic acid levels in the patients' group (r=-0.257, p=0.01), but not between serum homocysteine levels and serum vitamin B12 levels (r=-0.185, p=0.64). No statistically significant differences in MTHFR C677T genotype and C/T alleles distribution were investigated between the patient and control group (p>0.05). The MTHFR C677T polymorphism did not differentially affect the burden and location of AMI and ACI.

CONCLUSIONS: Homocysteine played a common role in atherosclerosis-related acute ischemic vascular events. These correlations were modified by MTHFR C677T polymorphisms and influenced by folic acid levels. The MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were not directly related to acute ischemic vascular events, nor did they differentially affect the burden and location of AMI and ACI.