title: Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase gene polymorphism in children with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms by impairing folate metabolism may influence the development of allergic diseases. The results of studies evaluating the relationship between MTHFR polymorphisms and atopic disease are controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the polymorphisms of C677T and A1298C for MTHFR gene and allergic rhinitis (AR) in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients followed up with diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in our clinic and 30 children with no allergic diseases were included in the study. All participants were genotyped for the MTHFR (C677T) and (A1298C) polymorphisms. Vitamin b12, folate and homocysteine levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 9.2±2.9 years; 66.7% of the patients were male. There was no significant difference between patient and control groups regarding gender, age and atopy history of the family (p>0.05). The frequency of homozygotes for MTHFR C677T polymorphism in the patient and control groups was 3.3% and 10%, respectively. The frequency of homozygotes for MTHFR A1298C polymorphism among groups was 26.7% and 16.7%, respectively. The association between allergic rhinitis and polymorphisms of C677T and A1298C for MTHFR gene was not statistically significant in patients compared with controls (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the patients and the control group in terms of serum vitamin b12, folate and homocysteine levels (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no evidence for an association between allergic rhinitis and polymorphisms of C677T and A1298C for MTHFR gene in children. Further studies investigating the relationship between MTHFR polymorphism and AR are required.
authors: Zeynep Kamil Woman's and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: mdmahmut@yahoo.com.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dogru
authors: Zeynep Kamil Woman's and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Center of Genetics Diagnosis, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Aydin
authors: Zeynep Kamil Woman's and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Aktas
authors: Umraniye Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Cırık
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000235:genetics*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Allergy; Child; Gene; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase