title: The C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation does not influence cardiovascular risk in the dialysis population: results of a multicentre prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism has been identified as an independent cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) in the general population and among uraemic subjects, the validity of this association remains controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  To verify this hypothesis, we enrolled all subjects on maintenance dialysis treatment from a specific Italian district. We also enrolled, from the same area, 1307 subject to serve as controls. Genomic DNA was obtained and MTHFR C677T gene polymorphisms were determined. After a baseline evaluation, patients were followed-up for 37+/-13 months, and all cardiovascular events and causes of mortality were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 461 patients (417 on haemodialysis and 44 on peritoneal dialysis) were investigated, and these included patients with and without cardiovascular diseases at baseline. At enrollment, mean age was 58.8+/-15.6 years and dialytic age was 82+/-69 months. Genotype frequencies were not different between controls and uraemics. During the follow-up, the mean mortality rate was 8.81%/year, with cardiovascular events as the most frequent cause of death (n = 68, 56.6%). There was no relationship between the MTHFR genotype and cardiovascular morbidity, overall mortality or cardiovascular mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In end-stage renal disease, MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were not associated with cardiovascular disease or mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, IRCCS, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. faucel@tin.it
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aucella
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Margaglione
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grandone
authors.forename: Mimmo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vigilante
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forcella
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ktena
authors.forename: Alva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Min
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salatino
authors.forename: Deni Aldo
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Procaccini
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stallone
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gesualdo
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)