Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism, folate, and susceptibility to preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that the common missense mutation of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) (677 C to T, ala to val) is more prevalent among nulliparous preeclamptic women compared with control and transient hypertension of pregnancy patients. The correlation of the MTHFR T677/T677 genotype in mothers and fetuses was also investigated to test for possible maternal-fetal interactions. Lastly, possible differences in serum folate concentrations between control and preeclampsia patients and the possibility of a correlation between serum folate and MTHFR genotype were investigated as well.


METHODS
The MTHFR genotype was determined for 114 control subjects, 99 preeclamptic patients, and 24 patients with transient hypertension of pregnancy by a polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR) method. To ensure homogeneity of ethnic background, only samples from white women were analyzed. Results were analyzed with a chi 2 test for homogeneity. Serum folate was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).


RESULTS
The prevalence of the MTHFR T677/T677 genotype was not significantly different between the populations studied. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the MTHFR T677/T677 genotype between the infants of preeclamptic and control mothers. Furthermore, there was no difference in serum folate concentrations between control and preeclampsia patients, and there was no correlation between serum folate and MTHFR genotype.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that contrary to previous published reports, the C677T missense mutation of MTHFR is not a risk factor for preeclampsia in this nulliparous patient population. Furthermore, this mutation is not related to serum folate status in late pregnancy.
Powers
R W
RW
Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Minich
L A
LA
Lykins
D L
DL
Ness
R B
RB
Crombleholme
W R
WR
Roberts
J M
JM
D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000201:enzymology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy
D004247:DNA; D005492:Folic Acid; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)