title: The C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene is associated with idiopathic ischemic stroke in the young Mexican-Mestizo population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have demonstrated that a common polymorphism in the gene encoding 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is associated with an increased risk for stroke. However, this relation remains controversial. Our aim was to investigate the possible association between the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene and idiopathic ischemic stroke in the young Mexican-Mestizo population.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-eight patients <45 years with idiopathic ischemic stroke and 183 controls were tested for the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene. Causes of primary thrombophilia as well as classical risk factors for atherothrombotic disease were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the genotype distribution between patients and controls (p = 0.01), but the allele frequency was similar in both groups (p = 0.09). The univariate analysis identified the T allele as a risk factor for ischemic stroke (TT and CT carriers), as compared with homozygous for C allele (p = 0.01). Hypertension and smoking prevalences were significantly higher in the group of patients. Also the T allele was significantly associated with large-vessel ischemic stroke. The postoral methionine load homocysteine levels were higher in patients with ischemic stroke versus controls (p < 0.001). There was a low prevalence of primary thrombophilia markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The T allele from the C677T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene represents an independent risk factor for idiopathic ischemic stroke at young age in the Mexican-Mestizo population. Also, hypertension and smoking were independent risk factors in our study population. Primary thrombophilic risk factors were not associated with ischemic stroke in our population.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Angeles del Pedregal, Querétaro, México City, México.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Isordia-Salas
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barinagarrementería-Aldatz
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leaños-Miranda
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borrayo-Sánchez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vela-Ojeda
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Chávez
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ibarra-González
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majluf-Cruz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008800:Mexico; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)