Association of plasma homocysteine, folic acid levels, and C677T polymorphism in methylene tetra hydrofolate reductase with risk of preeclampsia: a case-control study in Iranian women

Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia is the most dangerous hypertension with unknown etiology. Preeclampsia is a kind of pregnancy-specific syndrome. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between C677T polymorphism of MTHFR gene, folic acid, and homocysteine serum levels in Iranian pregnant women with preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in 129 pre-eclamptic pregnant women and 125 control individuals and MTHFR gene (C677T polymorphism) was determined by PCRRFLP method, and the plasma levels of the homocysteine and acid folic was measured by ELISA method. Result: The CC, CT, and TT genotypes were not significantly different in patients compared to control (p = 0.614). Low mean levels of homocysteine and folic acid in the preeclamptic cases were observed compared to control group. The levels of BMI, gestational age, and neonatal weight were statistically different in two groups and other variables revealed no significant difference between these groups. Conclusion: These findings showed that there was no correlation between the C677T polymorphism of MTHFR gene and preeclampsia but the TT genotype of C677T polymorphism seems to be a protective factor for preeclampsia. It is also concluded that in this study, homocysteine and folic acid serum levels and BMI are significantly affected in patients with preeclampsia compared to controls and can increase the risk of developing sever side effect to mothers and neonates.