Association of MTHFR 677C > T genetic polymorphism with extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic treatment

Abstract

Several studies have revealed a positive association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) single nucleotide polymorphism 677C > T and schizophrenia. In T-allele carriers the functional activity of MTHFR is reduced contributing to hyperhomocysteinemia development, methionine deficiency and as a consequence - redox dysregulation and the alteration of dopamine synthesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of MTHFR677C > T with the severity of extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotics in schizophrenia. The average score on the Simpson-Angus scale (SAS) in a group of patients with MTHFR 677 T-allele (n = 30; 13.27 ± 5.10, M ± SD) was statistically significantly higher (t = −2.40; p = 0.02) than in the comparison group of wild genotype MTHFR 677 CC carriers (n = 31; 9.84 ± 6.03, M ± SD), confirming the working hypothesis about a possible association of the MTHFR677 T-allele carriage with the development of extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotics.