[Folic acid levels, homocysteine and polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme (MTHFR) in patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia].
Preeclampsia and eclampsia are the primary causes of maternal mortality. In the state of Nuevo León, from 1990 to 1998, these conditions represented 44.1% of maternal deaths. The presence of thrombogenic substances (homocysteine, C protein, and anticardiolipin antibodies) in the mother's blood has been related to this problem. The C677T polymorphism of the enzyme methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) favors the increase of homocysteine levels, while folic acid (FA) supplementation decreases its levels.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the role of FA in the physiopathology of preeclampsia in our environment. KIND OF STUDY: Longitudinal, prospective and comparative.


METHODS



METHODS
Women with severe preeclampsia and/or eclampsia (n-13).


METHODS
Women in the third trimester of a normal pregnancy (n + 15). 20 mL Blood samples were taken during the first 24 hours of puerperium, and their AF, homocysteine and MTHFR polymorphism were measured. The t Student test and the Exact Fisher test were used to compare between both groups.


RESULTS
The values obtained for homocysteine were (x + SD):


METHODS
9.85 micromoles/L + 2.88, and controls: 7.61 micromoles/L + 1.32 (p < 0.04). The frequency (%) of the genetic polymorphism for MTHFR was: positive homozygotes (T/T): 38.46 vs. 20, heterozygotes (C/T): 38.46 vs. 26.6, negative homozygotes (C/C): 23 vs 53, for cases and controls, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our study, the frequency of the homozygote state (T/T) of MTHFR and increased blood levels of homocysteine is greater in women suffering from preeclampsia.
Perales Dávila
J
J
Secretaría de Salud de Nuevo León, Facultad de Medicina, UANL.
Martínez de Villarreal
L E
LE
Triana Saldaña
H
H
Saldívar Rodríguez
D
D
Barrera Saldaña
H
H
Rojas Martínez
A
A
López Valdez
R
R
Garza Elizondo
M
M
García Cavazos
R
R
Valdez Leal
R
R
Zacarías Villarreal Pérez
J
J
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)