Prevalence and role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C-->T and 1298 A-->C polymorphisms in coronary artery disease in Arabs.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies reported an association of 677 C-->T and 1298 A-->C methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) variants with coronary artery disease (CAD). No previous studies concerning the prevalence of these 2 MTHFR variants or their possible association with CAD in Arabs are currently available in the literature.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of MTHFR variants and their potential relevance to CAD among Arabs.


METHODS
We used polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion to determine the prevalence of these 2 MTHFR polymorphisms in 625 healthy blood donors (BDs) and 545 angiographically confirmed CAD patients of Arab origin.


RESULTS
For the 677 C-->T variant within the CAD group, 64.2% were homozygous wild-type C/C, 32.1% were heterozygous C/T, and 3.7% were homozygous T/T genotype. Within the BD group tested for the 677 C-->T variant, 72.2% were homozygous wild-type C/C, 25.8% were heterozygous C/T, and 2% were homozygous T/T genotype. Within the CAD group tested for the 1298 A-->C variant (n = 540), 45.7% were homozygous wild-type A/A, 46.9% were heterozygous A/C, and 7.4% were homozygous C/C genotype. Within the BD group tested for the 1298 A-->C variant (n = 625), 39.4% were homozygous wild-type A/A, 51.5% were heterozygous A/C, and 9.1% were homozygous C/C genotype. The distribution and allele frequency of these 2 MTHFR variants followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and were similar in the CAD and BD study groups. The prevalence of the 677 C-->T and 1298 A-->C compound heterozygosity was 9.6% for the BD group and 12.3% for the CAD group.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2 MTHFR variants tested in this study, individually or compound, are not associated with CAD. Therefore, neither of these 2 variants can be considered an independent risk factor or a predictor for CAD in this population.
Abu-Amero
Khaled K
KK
Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. kamero@kfshrc.edu.sa
Wyngaard
Carol A
CA
Dzimiri
Nduna
N
D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000235:genetics*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)