Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T variant and hyperhomocysteinemia in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients from India.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism (C677T, A1298C) has been implicated in increased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels. The present study was designed to investigate the association between MTHFR polymorphism and increased Hcy levels in subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) patients. A total of 150 subjects from North India were included in the study, comprising of 100 SAH patients and 50 healthy controls. Plasma Hcy levels was determined and MTHFR polymorphism (C677T, A1298C) was screened by High resolution melting (HRM) analysis. Plasma Hcy levels were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001) in SAH patients than in healthy controls. No significant difference in the genotype and allele frequency of MTHFR A1298C was observed. However, frequency of MTHFR C677T genotype, CT (53% vs. 20%; p < 0.001) and TT (15% vs. 2%; p < 0.05) was significantly higher in SAH group as compared to healthy controls. The frequency of T allele (41.5% vs. 12%; p < 0.001) was also found to be higher in SAH patients in comparison to healthy controls. Furthermore, Hcy levels were higher in SAH patients with TT genotype than in patients having CT genotype, whereas CC genotype had lower Hcy levels. The study suggests that higher frequency of MTHFR C677T allele may contribute to etiopathology of SAH through increase in Hcy levels.