MTHFR C677T Polymorphism and Its Relationship to Myocardial Infarction in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey

Background and Aims. An association of homozygous MTHFR 677T genotypes with elevated plasma homocysteine level has been documented, but results are still controversial. We aimed to investigate prevalence of the C677T polymorphism in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. Methods. We studied genomic DNA of 231 unrelated patients (aged 59 +/- 13 years; 175 male, 56 female) with first anterior acute MI and 242 healthy controls (aged 54 19 years; 182 male, 60 female) using real-time polymerase chain reaction kits for the MTHFR C677T mutation. Results. Prevalence of MTHFR C677T mutant genotype was 49.1% (CT: 45.8%, TT: 3.3%) in controls and 48.45% (CT: 38.5%, TT: 9.95%) in patients with acute MI. The TT mutation was more frequent in patients with acute MI than in controls (9.95 vs. 3.3%) (OR; 3.23, 95% CI; [1.34-8.05], p = 0.003). Conclusions. The MTHFR gene homozygote TT mutation is a risk factor for patients with MI in the eastern Black Sea Turkish Population. (C) 2011 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc.