Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a factor that predisposes to thrombosis, and the C677T mutation in methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is known to give increased plasma homocysteine. We wanted to investigate if these factors were overrepresented in a group of patients with central retinal vein occlusion.
Methods: 116 patients with a history of central retinal vein occlusion were examined for the presence of hyperhomocysteinemia and the MTHFR C677T mutation.
Results: Compared to the control groups, there was no significant increase, neither in plasma homocysteine nor in the frequency of the MTHFR C677T mutation in the patients. Even when we looked selectively at the young patients, age less than 50 years, no difference could be detected.
Conclusion: It seems that neither hyperhomocysteinemia nor the MTHFR C677T mutation is an important risk factor for the aetiology of central retinal vein occlusion.