[Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism in patients with type 2 diabetes]

Hyperhomocysteinemia is recognised as a risk factor of ischaemic heart disease and vascular complications of arterial hypertension. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T polymorphism is associated with hyperhomocysteinaemia. The aim of the study was the assessment of an association of the above polymorphism with type 2 diabetes with special attention to myocardial infarction and arterial hypertension accompanying diabetes. The study group consisted of 172 type 2 diabetics. 172 control subjects with normal glucose tolerance were age and sex matched to patients with diabetes. C677T polymorphism in MTHFR gene locus was detected using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. CT and TT genotypes were found more often among diabetics (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.16-2.89; p < 0.01). This finding may be secondary to the excess of T allele bearers among diabetics with myocardial infarction when compared to diabetics without infarction and to control group. Upon obtained results the potential role of genotypes CT and TT as risk factors of myocardial infarction among patients with type 2 diabetes could not be excluded (OR 2.33, 95% CI 0.93-5.8; p = 0.07). Genotypes containing T allele are not associated with diabetes type 2 and concomitant arterial hypertension (OR 1.45, 95% CI 0.89-2.57; p = 0.14). A confirmation in further studies is needed for the presented findings.