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Common genetic variants of homocysteine metabolism in ischemic stroke: a case-control study.

Linnebank M, Montenarh M, Kölsch H, Linnebank A, Schnez K, Schweichel D, Pohl C, Urbach H, Heun R, Harbrecht U, Klockgether T, Wüllner U

Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany. michael.linnebank@ukb.uni-bonn.de

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for ischemic stroke. We investigated five functional polymorphisms involved in homocysteine metabolism in each 159 stroke patients and controls. The folate-sensitive polymorphism methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c. 677 C > T (A222V) referred a non-significant risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio: 1.20) in all patients, and homozygosity for MTHFR c. 677 C > T was associated with an earlier onset of stroke selectively in patients younger than 60 years (38 +/- 3 years vs. 45 +/- 1 years; P = 0.043). This study suggests that the investigated polymorphisms are no major risk factors for stroke, although MTHFR c. 677 C > T could be a minor factor of vulnerability especially in young patients (TT genotype), which might be helpful for the clinical work-up of stroke cases and for preventive dietary strategies.

Published 1 August 2005 in Eur J Neurol, 12(8): 614-8.
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