MTHFR polymorphism in patients with epilepsy in eastern Turkey

MTHFR gene C677T (rs1801133) and A1298C (rs1801131) polymorphisms are claimed to play a role in epileptogenesis. We aimed to define the prevalence of MTHFR gene C677T (rs1801133) and A1298C (rs1801131) polymorphisms in eastern Turkey and evaluated the possible relationships between polymorphism and epilepsy. A case-control study was conducted. Data for 81 adults diagnosed as epilepsy according to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) criteria and were followed up in a neurology outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital and 159 healthy controls were analyzed. Of the patients diagnosed as epilepsy, 54.3% (n=44) were females, and 45.7% (n=37) were males. In contrast, 47.2% (n=75) of the control group were females, and 52.8% (n=84) were males. There was no statistically significant difference concerning sex between the groups (P=0.295). The genotype distributions and allele frequencies of the MTHFR A1298C rs1801131 were statistically different between patients and the control group. A1298C rs1801131 polymorphism was significantly higher in patients with epilepsy. Additionally, the C allele in A1298C polymorphisms and T allele in C677T polymorphisms were also significantly higher in the patient group. However, there was no statistically significant difference concerning combined genotype analysis of MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C polymorphisms or heterozygous/homozygous presentations. Polymorphism of MTHFR A1298C in eastern Turkey is higher in epileptic patients than in healthy controls. More studies are needed to investigate the significance of this condition in epilepsy.