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Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T mutation and plasma homocysteine level in Behçet's disease

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess whether homozygosity for the 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation and plasma homocysteine concentration are related to deep vein thrombosis in Behçet's disease (BD) patients.

Methods

Forty BD patients (23 males, 17 females; mean age 40.2±8.4 years) and 60 healthy controls (HC) (34 males, 26 females; mean age 41.6±6.9 years) were included in the study. Fourteen of the BD patients had a history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), as confirmed by Doppler ultrasound.

Results

The rates of homozygosity for the MTHFR C677T mutation in the BD and HC groups were 7.5% and 10%, respectively. The distribution of MTHFR genotypes was similar in the two groups (p>0.05), and analysis showed that homozygosity for the mutation was not a risk factor for DVT. The mean plasma homocysteine levels were 13.4±4.2 µmol/l for the overall BD patients and 12.6±3.8 µmol/l for HC (p>0.05). However, the mean plasma homocysteine level in the BD patients with DVT history (15.9±4.6 µmol/l) was significantly higher than the level in the BD patients with no DVT history (12.1±3.3 µmol/l) (p=0.013) and the level in the HC group (12.6±3.8 µmol/l) (p=0.025).

Conclusion

The study results suggest that elevated plasma homocysteine level may play a role in the pathogenesis of venous thrombosis in BD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology–Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, 01330 Balcali, Adana, Turkey

    Abdullah Canataroglu & Suleyman Ozbek

  2. Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey

    Kahraman Tanriverdi & Fikri Baslamisli

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey

    Tamer Inal

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey

    Gulsah Seydaoglu

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey

    Didem Arslan

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  1. Abdullah Canataroglu
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  2. Kahraman Tanriverdi
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  3. Tamer Inal
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  4. Gulsah Seydaoglu
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Correspondence to Abdullah Canataroglu.

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Canataroglu, A., Tanriverdi, K., Inal, T. et al. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T mutation and plasma homocysteine level in Behçet's disease. Rheumatol Int 23, 236–240 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0301-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0301-8

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