Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C-->T polymorphism and plasma folate in relation to pre-eclampsia risk among Peruvian women.
OBJECTIVE
Pre-eclampsia is an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia in most studies. Nutritional and genetic factors regulate homocyst(e)ine levels. A missense mutation 677 C-->T in the gene for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) has been associated with an increased pre-eclampsia risk in some, although not most, previously studied populations.


METHODS
To further understand the role of this polymorphism in the etiology of pre-eclampsia, we genotyped a total of 125 pre-eclamptics and 179 normotensive pregnant Peruvian women.


RESULTS
The wild-type allele frequency among cases and controls was 54% and 58%, respectively. Twenty percent of cases and 17% of controls were homozygous for the 677 C-->T MTHFR genotype (T/T). After adjustment for confounding by covariates including maternal age, nulliparity, pre-pregnancy body mass index and use of prenatal vitamins, women homozygous for the 677 C-->T MTHFR genotype (T/T) experienced a modest, statistically non-significant increased risk of pre-eclampsia (adjusted OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.7, 3.8). Maternal folate deficiency was associated with a statistically non-significant doubling in risk of pre-eclampsia in this population (adjusted OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9, 4.3).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no evidence to suggest that pre-eclampsia risk is positively associated with the T/T genotype overall, or in the context of folate deficiency.
Center for Perinatal Studies, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
M A
MA
Williams
S E
SE
Sanchez
C
C
Zhang
V
V
Bazul
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D017354:Point Mutation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)