Incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia and Mthfr C677T polymorphism among young patients with acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered an independent risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease. Mutation MTHFR C677T reduces the activity of methylenetetra-hydrofolatereductase and may cause hyperhomocysteinemia. Incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia (homocysteine above 12 μmol/L), homocysteine level, and distribution of MTHFR C677T genotypes (C/C, C/T and T/T) are compared between young patients with acute myocardial infarction and healthy persons, matched by age. Study involved 86 patients younger than 45 years (77 men and 9 women) and 35 controls. Homocysteine was measured by an HPLC method and the MTHFR C677T genotype determined using PCR amplification and digestion with Hinf I. Statistical analyses included chisquare and Mann-Whitney U tests. Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in 32.6% patients and 14.3% controls, revealing a significant difference (P= 0.038). Median homocysteine levels in patients (10.4 μmol/L) and controls (9.6 μmol/L) were significantly different (P=0.035). Among patients, 50.0% had C/C, 41.9% C/T and 8.1% T/T genotype, and the genotype had no influence on hyperhomocysteinemia incidence and homocysteine level. Genotype distribution in patients was not significantly different from that observed in controls. The conclusion is that young patients with acute myocardial infarction have higher incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia and higher homocysteine levels than healthy young adults, while there is no significant difference in the distribution of MTHFR C677T genotypes.