title: Plasma homocysteine and vitamin B12 serum levels, red blood cell folate concentrations, C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation and risk of recurrent miscarriage: a case-control study in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperhomocysteinemia and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation have been postulated as a possible cause of recurrent miscarriage (RM). There is a wide variation in the prevalence of MTHFR polymorphisms and homocysteine (Hcy) plasma levels among populations around the world. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible association between hyperhomocysteinemia and its causative genetic or acquired factors and RM in Catalonia, a Mediterranean region in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty consecutive patients with ≥ 3 unexplained RM and 30 healthy control women having at least one child but no previous miscarriage were included. Plasma Hcy levels, MTHFR gene mutation, red blood cell (RBC) folate and vitamin B12 serum levels were measured in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed neither in plasma Hcy levels, RBC folate and vitamin B12 serum levels nor in the prevalence of homozygous and heterozygous MTHFR gene mutation between the two groups studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study RM is not associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, and/or the MTHFR gene mutation.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Gynecology , Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Cl inic-Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Creus
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deulofeu
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peñarrubia
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balasch
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000235:genetics; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013030:Spain; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12