Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms, C677T and A1298C, are associated with methotrexate-related toxicities in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatol Int. 2012 Jun;32(6):1837-42. doi: 10.1007/s00296-011-1989-5. Epub 2011 Jul 21.

Abstract

We investigated associations between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms C677T and A1298C and methotrexate (MTX)-related toxicities in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking MTX. One hundred sixty-seven patients with RA were enrolled in a cross-sectional study and genotyped for the single-nucleotide polymorphisms C677T and A1298C in MTHFR. Alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes of the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms were not associated with specific MTX toxicities. However, among RA patients with the 1298CC genotype, the proportion who experienced at least one toxicity was significantly greater than the proportion of patients with 1298AA who did (P = 0.043). In addition, the proportion of patients with the 677C/1298A haplotype who experienced toxicity was greater than the proportion of those with 677C/1298C who did (P = 0.032, odds ratio = 2.085, 95% confidence interval 1.058-4.106). In this study, MTHFR polymorphisms were associated with MTX toxicities in Korean patients with RA. Further study for association of MTHFR polymorphisms with MTX toxicities should be needed in larger RA population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / enzymology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / ethnology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / genetics*
  • Asian People / genetics*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / adverse effects*
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
  • Methotrexate