title: Hyperhomocysteinaemia, low folate concentrations and MTHFR C677T mutation in abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homocysteine (Hcy) has been implicated in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the association of Hcy, vitamin B12, and folate in patients with AAA has not been studied in China. This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the relationship of vitamin B12, folic acid, and Hcy levels in AAA.
  
  
  METHODS
  463 patients who had AAA were included in this study. 463 control subjects were age- and sex-matched with the patients. In all of the subjects, we evaluated total plasma levels Hcy, vitamin B12, folic acid and the distribution of the C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean plasma Hcy levels were significantly higher in patients with AAA compared with controls (18.37 ± 6.97 vs. 12.89 ± 4.08 μmol/L, P < 0.001). The frequency of homozygous (TT) genotype in MTHFR C677T mutation was significantly higher in patients with AAA than that in control subjects (19.4 % vs. 11.9 %, P = 0.002). The fasting Hcy correlated negatively with folate (AAA: r = - 0.311, P < 0.01;
  
  
  METHODS
  r = - 0.348, P < 0.01). The aneurysm size was significantly greater (P < 0.001) in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia than that in patients with normal Hcy plasma levels. The size of the AAA had a linear correlation with the plasma Hcy level (r = 0.286; P< 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum folate deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia were associated with an increased risk of AAA in Northeast China. The homozygous (TT) genotype of MTHFR gene mutation may be a crucial hereditary risk factor in AAA.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Junpeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Zhishen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China.
authors.forename: Chengwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Haidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Shijie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005492:Folic Acid; C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Homocysteine; abdominal aortic aneurysm; folate; methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase; vitamin B12