title: Association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism and carotid intima medial thickness progression in post ischaemic stroke patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. The main cause of elevated levels of homocysteine is 677T allele, the gene encoded by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). Carotid atherosclerosis progression, which can be measured by examination of carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), is a predictor of recurrent ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to determine a relationship between MTHFR polymorphism, homocysteine ​​levels, and increased C-IMT in post- ischemic stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an epidemiological prospective observational cohort study involving 71 patients with post-ischemic stroke subject of the first (onset 1 month) admitted in the Neurology Clinic of Kariadi Hospital during 2012 to 2013. C-IMT was examined using carotid duplex ultrasound at 1(st), 6(th), and 12(th) month after stroke onset. MTHFR gene polymorphism was examined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). Homocysteine level was measured using Axis(®) Homocysteine EIA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 3 categories of MTHFR gene variation, i.e., 677T/T, 677T/C, and 677C/C. The most frequent allele was MTHFR 677C (88.9%), while the MTHFR 677T allele frequency was 11.1%. The majority allele of the subject population was 677C/C, however, there were 3 subjects (4.2%) who had 677T/T allele. The 677T/T allele group had normal homocysteine level and the lowest mean C-IMT among others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports that the MTHFR 677T allele polymorphism is not associated with hyperhomocysteinemia as well as an increase in C-IMT in post ischemic stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, 2 Center for Biomedical Research (CEBIOR), 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Dodik T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Pramukarso
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, 2 Center for Biomedical Research (CEBIOR), 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Sultana M H
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Faradz
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, 2 Center for Biomedical Research (CEBIOR), 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Stefani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Neurology, 2 Center for Biomedical Research (CEBIOR), 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Soeharyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hadisaputro
keywords: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR); homocysteine; intima-media thickness (IMT); post-ischemic stroke; progression of atherosclerosis