Association of Plasma Homocysteine, Serum Folic Acid and Vitamin
B12 Concentrations and MTHFR C677T Polymorphism with
Preeclampsia
Işık ÜSTÜNER1, Murat SÖNMEZER1, Bora CENGİZ1, Halil Gürhan KARABULUT2,
Atilla Halil ELHAN3, Feride SÖYLEMEZ1
Ankara-Turkey
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the association between preeclampsia and plasma homocysteine, serum folic acid, vitamin B12 concentrations and MTHFR C677T polymorphism.
STUDY DESIGN: This study was a case-control study including 20 pregnant females with preeclampsia and 30 healthy normotensive pregnant (ages 18-40) females. Plasma homocysteine, serum folic acid and vitamin B12 concentrations were measured in all patients in the third trimester of pregnancy and MTHFR C677T polymorphism was also analyzed.
RESULTS: The risk of preeclampsia in patients with homocysteine concentrations >8.65 µmol/L increased 8-fold as compared to homocysteine concentrations <6.19 µmol/L. While the mean plasma homocysteine concentration (8.65±2.05 µmol/L vs. 6.19±1.52 µmol/L, p<0.001), was high in the preeclampsia group as compared to controls, the mean serum folic acid concentration was significantly low (11.49±8.96 ng/ml vs. 15.15±6.7 ng/ml, p= 0.020). No significant difference was noted between the groups regarding mean serum vitamin B12 concentrations (241.1±111.7 pg/ml vs. 236±111.1 pg/ml, p= 0.879) and MTHFR C677T polymorphism including MTHFR gene TT/CT/CC genotypes.
CONCLUSION: Elevated third trimester plasma homocysteine concentrations were associated with increased risk of preeclampsia. This association was more pronounced in our study which may also be related to synergistic effect of the coexistent folic acid deficiency. MTHFR C677T polymorphism could not alone explain the hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with preeclampsia.
(Gynecol Obstet Reprod Med 2006; 12:159-164)
Key Words: Folic acid, Homocysteine, MTHFR C677T polymorphism, Preeclampsia, Vitamin B12
