Hyperhomocysteinaemia and MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in renal transplant recipients

Aim-To study the effect of folate treatment on hyperhomocysteinaemia and th e effect of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorph ism on total homocysteine and folate concentrations after renal transplanta tion. Methods-A total of 30 transplanted children and adolescents were investigat ed for total homocysteine and folate serum concentrations before and after folate treatment, as well as for the presence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphi sm. Results-The allele frequency of C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene in the study population (0.33) was not different to that in controls (0.38). Befo re folate treatment the homocysteine concentration was raised in all groups ; following folate supplementation it was significantly decreased in the CC and CT groups, but not in the TT group. In patients with CC genotype, seru m homocysteine correlated with serum creatinine and cholesterol, and time s ince transplantation before treatment. Conclusion-Folate supplementation appears to be an effective strategy to no rmalise total homocysteine concentration in renal transplanted children and adolescents.