(Circulation. 2000;101:e172.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Circulation Electronic Pages |
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene and Coronary Artery Disease
Department of Cardiology Rabin Medical Center
Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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To the Editor:
Brattström et al1 performed a meta-analysis of the results of 13 studies on plasma homocysteine concentrations in the 3 genotypes of the C677T mutation of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and of 23 case-control studies on this mutation in cardiovascular disease. They found that the TT (homozygous mutant) genotype was associated with mildly elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations but with a relative risk of vascular disease of only 1.12. They concluded that although the C677T mutation of MTHFR is a major cause of mild hyperhomocysteinemia, it is not a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
We are greatly concerned by this meta-analysis, particularly by the inclusion of different populations. The impact of the C677T mutation on plasma homocysteine and its association with coronary artery disease (CAD) reflect a gene-environment interaction. However, Brattström et al pooled data from populations that differed in their ethnic origin, geographic location, and probably nutritional status. A review of the pooled studies on MTHFR polymorphism in CAD and of more recent works, including a preliminary report from our institution,2 shows that almost all the negative studies included populations of Anglo-Saxon origin, whereas all the positive studies included populations of other ethnic origins: Dutch,3 Irish,4 Japanese,5 and Israeli Jews.2 This suggests that the association between MTHFR polymorphism and CAD is population specific and cannot be subjected to meta-analysis.
Although it is not yet clear why the role of MTHFR C677T as a risk factor for CAD varies among populations, differences in plasma homocysteine levels in homozygotes may provide at least a partial answer. For example, in some populations, hyperhomocysteinemia is confined to those TT homozygotes with plasma folate levels in the lowest quartile,1 whereas in other populations it also occurs with higher folate levels. Other factors may also be important in this context, including differences in folate intake and in plasma folate, in itself a possible coronary risk factor, and in concomitant genetic disturbances in the clotting system. Moreover, there is strong evidence that the role of this mutation also varies within populations and among phenotypes. In our population,2 for example, the TT genotype was overrepresented only among patients with early-onset (<45 years of age) CAD and not among those with later CAD onset. A similar association with premature CAD was found in 2 other positive case-control studies.3 4 Since early onset characterizes only a minority of CAD patients, the role of MTHFR polymorphism in this setting could have eluded authors who did not specifically address this issue.
Therefore, it is much too early for a verdict to be rendered on the role of MTHFR in CAD, and much more evidence is necessary.
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References |
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1. Brattström L, Wilcken DEL, Öhrvik J, Brudin L. Common methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutation leads to hyperhomocysteinemia but not to vascular disease: the result of a meta-analysis. Circulation. 1998;98:2520–2526.
2. Mager A, Lalezari S, Birnbaum Y, Adler Y, Magal N, Shochat M. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and early-onset coronary artery disease in Israel. Eur Heart J. 1998;19:446. Abstract.
3. Kluijtmans LAJ, Van den Heuvel LPWJ, Boers GHJ, Frosst P, Stevens EMB, van Oost BA, den Heijer M, Trijbels FJM, Rozen R, Blom HJ. Molecular genetic analysis in mild hyperhomocysteinemia: a common mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene is a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Am J Hum Genet. 1996;58:35–41.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
4.
Gallagher PM, Meleady R, Shields DC, Tan KS, McMaster
D, Rosen R, Evans A, Graham IM, Whitehead AS. Homocysteine and the risk
of premature coronary heart disease. Circulation. 1996;94:2154–2158.
5.
Morita H, Taguchi J, Kurihara H, Kitaoka M, Kaneda H,
Kurihara Y, Maemura K, Shindo T, Minamino T, Ohno M, Yamaoki K,
Ogasawara K, Aizawa T, Suzuki S, Yazaki Y. Genetic polymorphism of
5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate
reductase (MTHFR) as a risk factor for coronary artery disease.
Circulation. 1997;95:2032–2036.
Response
Department of Medicine
Department of Clinical Physiology County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden
Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory University of New South Wales, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Department of Statistics University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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In responding to the 3 points Drs Blom and Verhoef make about our article,R1 we should emphasize that our aim was to examine in a meta-analysis all published data on the relationship between vascular disease and the TT genotype for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. In the
6000 vascular patients and similar
number of controls, the prevalence of the TT genotype was
between 11% and 12% in both groups. Of the 23 studies, only 4 showed
a significantly higher TT genotype prevalence in vascular
patients; 3 of these were among the 6 studies with the smallest numbers
of patients. Given that the mutation is associated with a modest
homocysteine elevation when folate levels are below median population
levels,R1 and extrapolating from these findings and from
data in 13 studies in which homocysteine was also measured, we
concluded in our Abstract that "our findings suggest that the mild
hyperhomocysteinemia found frequently in vascular disease patients is
not causally related to the pathogenesis of the vascular
disease."R1 These 2 aspects of our article are relevant
to the 3 points Drs Blom and Verhoef make. We agree with their first comment that the expected OR with the TT genotype compared with the CC genotype falls within the CI we calculated (1.12; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.37) and that these findings neither support nor reject an association between mild homocysteine elevation associated with the TT genotype and vascular disease. But the data do show that the prevalence of the TT genotype in a large number of subjects with and without vascular disease is not different. This is strong evidence that the mutation itself is not associated with enhanced cardiovascular risk.
We also agree with their second point. There is always the possibility that the mutation itself could be beneficial and offset any potentially damaging effect of a modest homocysteine elevation. This point was included in the Discussion of our original submission but was omitted in the final version in response to an editorial request to shorten the manuscript.
We also agree with the third point. Those bearing the TT
genotype have an increased requirement for folate, so that in
general, the TT genotype is associated with homocysteine
elevation only in those among the population who have circulating
folate concentrations below median population levels.R1
Multivitamin supplementation and fortification of grain products
are certainly more common in North America than in Europe and
Australia. However, 2 large studies from widely separated parts of
Australia found an almost identical prevalence of the TT
genotype in patients aged 
65 years with coronary
disease established angiographically and the same prevalence in
appropriate numbers of controls.R2 R3
In a few years, the outcome data from the 7 major trials of the effects of folate (with or without vitamin B12) in vascular disease patients that are ongoing worldwide will provide answers for the therapeutic relevance to cardiovascular risk of folate (with or without vitamin B12) in vascular disease patients.R4 The results will answer questions Dr Mager raises in his thoughtful letter and, in particular, whether or not the TT genotype is overrepresented in younger patients with coronary artery disease.
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References |
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TopIntroductionReferencesIntroduction References |
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1. Brattström L, Wilcken DEL, Öhrvik J, Brudin L. Common methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation leads to hyperhomocysteinemia but not to vascular disease: the result of a meta-analysis. Circulation. 1998;98:2520–2526.
2.
Wilcken DEL, Wang XL, Sim AS, McCredie M. Distribution
in healthy and coronary populations of the
methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
(MTHFR) C677T mutation. Arterioscler Thromb
Vasc Biol. 1996;16:878–882.
3.
van Bockxmeer FM, Mamotte CDS, Vasikaran SD, Taylor
RR. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
gene and coronary artery disease. Circulation. 1997;95:21–23.
4. Clarke R, Collins R. Can dietary supplements with folic acid or vitamin B6 reduce cardiovascular risk? Design of clinical trials to test the homocysteine hypothesis of vascular disease. J Cardiovasc Risk. 1998;5:249–255.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
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