Retinal vein occlusion, homocysteine, and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase genotype.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the relationship between homocysteine (tHcy), 5,10 methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotype, folate and vitamin B12 status, and retinal vein occlusion (RVO).


METHODS
Subjects with RVO (n = 106) were recruited from outpatient and inpatient sources. Controls (n = 98) were selected to achieve a similar age and sex distribution. Full ocular examination was performed and medical history was taken for each study participant. Plasma and serum samples were analyzed for tHcy level and folate and vitamin B12 status, and extracted DNA was assessed for the MTHFR C677T genotype.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in plasma tHcy level or thermolabile MTHFR allele frequency between subjects and controls. Similarly, there was no significant difference in folate or vitamin B12 status between subjects and controls. MTHFR genotype did not affect folate or vitamin B12 concentrations in subjects or controls. However, tHcy was significantly higher in thermolabile homozygotes than in nonthermolabile homozygotes (ratio of geometric means, 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.74; P = 0.024).


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperhomocysteinemia, the MTHFR C677T mutation, and folate and vitamin B12 status are not important risk factors for RVO in this population.
McGimpsey
Stuart J
SJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast, Ireland, United Kingdom. stuart@mcgimpsey.fsworld.co.uk
Woodside
Jayne V
JV
Bamford
Louise
L
Gilchrist
Sarah E C M
SE
Graydon
Ryan
R
McKeeman
Gareth C
GC
Young
Ian S
IS
Hughes
Anne E
AE
Patterson
Chris C
CC
O'Reilly
Dermot
D
McGibbon
David
D
Chakravarthy
Usha
U
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12