Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (677C/T) Polymorphism in Myocardial Infarction and Hypertension

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and hypertension. This study aimed to assess the MTHFR gene polymorphisms (677C/T) as a potential genetic risk factor for hypertension and Myocardial Infarction (MI) in Egypt. Myocardial infarction and hypertensive diagnosed patients were divided into two groups; first comprised 50 patients aged < 45 years, second comprised 47 patient aged > 45 years and a third control group comprised 84. CT genotype was significantly higher in the first group (48.8%) versus control group (30%) and second group (29.4%) with (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.3-4.2, p = 0.006). The percentage of TT genotype was 4.7, 11.8 and 15% in the three groups respectively. The percentage of MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism was significantly higher in patients with hypertension than normotensive. MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism in Egyptian MI and hypertensive patients has no direct role in developing such diseases but in combination with high levels of cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides might constitute a probable potentiating factor for MI and hypertension among Egyptian patients and could not be used as a predictor for early diagnosis without considering other factors.