ASSOCIATION OF METHYLENETETRAHYDROFOLATEREDUCTASE GENE POLIMORPHISMS C677T ON THE HOMOCYSTEINELEVELS IN CORONARY ARTHERYDIASEASE

Abstract

Background: The aims of this paper were to determine the concentration of the total homocysteine(tHcy), to find whether the increased level of tHcy is associated with mutation of the C677T methylenetetrahydro- folatereductase gene (MTHFR). Also, we wanted to show whether the determination of the polymorphisms of this gene is particularly involved in the establishing of the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD), and whether this genetic analysis is the choice for this most common disease. Subjects and methods: The study included 84 subjects divided into two main groups: 43 healthy subjects as control group and 41 patients with CAD. The concentration of tHcy was determined by a cyclic enzymatic method, and the mutation of the MTHFR C677T gene was examined by a polymerase chain reaction. Results: The concentration of tHcy plasma in the patients with CAD was significantly higher (18,72 ± 5,31 μmol / L) compared to the control group (11,11 ± 3,23 μmol / L) (p <0.001). The statistical analysis with multiple regression showed that at the genotypes CT and TT of the MTHFR (C677T), the tHcy level is not significantly higher than the CC genotype of MTHFR (C677T) nor in the control group nor in the patients with CAD. Conclusion: The analysis of the results showed that the polymorphism of the MTHFR (C677T) gene is not associated, in most cases, with the mild to moderate hyperhomocysteinemia.