Evaluation of MTHFR C677T polymorphism in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients. A case-control study in a Northern Indian population

Abstract

Objective: The present study was aimed to evaluate MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and compare it with controls.

Methods: 207 patient with IS and 215 with CT/MRI proven ICH were included and compared with 188 healthy controls. The stroke risk factors, location of IS, its vascular territory and in ICH the location of hematoma were noted. MTHFR C677T polymorphism was studied by polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Hypertension was present in 65.9% of ICH and 48.8% of IS. Other stroke risk factors were not significantly different. The frequency of the CC genotype in controls was 68.6%. CT in 28.7% and TT in 2.7%, whereas it was 75.3%, 20.5% and 4.2% in ICH and 66.2%, 39.4% and 2.4% respectively in IS. The frequency of these genotypes as well as allele frequency was not different in IS, ICH as compared to controls, however variant allele was more frequent in IS compared to ICH. Homocysteine level was higher in IS patients with variant genotype

Interpretation: MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism was neither associated with hemorrhagic nor ischemic stroke. However raised homocysteine levels were found to be associated with MTHFRC677-TT genotype in IS patients.