IngentaConnect Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms in patient...

Authors: Fang, Xin¹; Namba, Hiroki; Akamine, Soichi; Sugiyama, Kenji

Source: Neurological Research, Volume 27, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 73-76(4)

Abstract:

Elevated plasma total homocysteine (HCY) level is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke. We investigated relationships between polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, and plasma levels of HCY and folate in patients of Mongolian races who suffered from cerebral ischemia (CI, n=42) or cerebral hemorrhage (CH, n=20) and in the 24 age-matched controls. The incidences of both homozygous and heterozygous MTHFR gene mutations in CI (26 and 43%) and in CH (25 and 60%) were significantly higher than those in the controls (8 and 25%). Homozygous MTHFR gene mutation was associated with reduced plasma folate levels, but not with increased plasma HCY levels. Among the subjects with homozygous MTHFR gene mutation, plasma folate levels in CH was significantly lower than those in CI and controls. MTHFR gene mutation in CH was found to be as common as that in CI and was associated with reduced plasma folate levels in the both. In homozygous MTHFR gene mutation, the plasma folate level was profoundly reduced in CH as compared with CI and controls, suggesting that subjects with low plasma folate levels have a predisposition to intracerebral bleeding.

Keywords: METHYLENETETRAHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE; GENETICS; HOMOCYSTEINE; FOLATE; STROKE; CEREBRAL; HEMORRHAGE

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1179/016164105X18313

Affiliations: 1: Department of Neurosurgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$51.00 plus tax

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms in patients with cerebral hemorrhage