Elevated Serum Levels of Homocysteine as an Early Prognostic Factor of Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Background and Goal . The aim was to examine the serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and their associations with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR ) gene C677T polymorphism in patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders as well as controls. Materials and Methods . There were 198 patients: 82 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, 22 with mood disorders, and 94 controls. The level of Hcy was determined by an isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography system. MTHFR C677T polymorphism was analysed using the restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction method. Results . The average level of Hcy was 11.94 ± 5.6 μ mol/L for patients with schizophrenia, 11.65 ± 3.3 μ mol/L for patients with affective disorders, versus 6.80 ± 2.93 μ mol/L in a control. The highest level of Hcy has been observed in patients with episodic-recurrent course of schizophrenia ( 11.30 ± 7.74 μ mol/L), paranoid schizophrenia continuous ( 12.76 ± 5.25 μ mol/L), and in patients with affective disorders ( 11.65 ± 3.26 μ mol/L). An association between the MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism and Hcy level was found by linear regression analysis ( r = 1.41 , P = 0.029 ). Conclusions . The data indicate a link between Hcy levels and schizophrenia and mood disorders. No associations between the level of Hcy in patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders and the MTHFR C677T polymorphism were found.