Objective: To investigate the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and plasma homocysteine level in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) patients.
Methods: The MTHFR genotypes were determined in 62 PIH patients and 90 normal pregnant women by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method, plasma homocysteine level was measured by high performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection.
Results: The frequencies of T677 allele (0.52) and the T677/T677 genotype (0.27) in the PIH group were markedly higher than those in the control group (0.31 and 0.13, P < 0.05, P < 0.01 respectively), mean plasma homocysteine level in the PIH group (9.62 +/- 2.11) mumol/L was also significantly higher than that in the control group (6.85 +/- 1.98) mumol/L (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The MTHFR gene T677 variant is the genetic high risk factor for PIH. It can induce the hyperhomocysteinemia, potentially contributing to the pathogeny of PIH.