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Serum Homocysteine, MTHFR Gene Polymorphism, and Carotid Intimal-Medial Thickness in NIDDM Subjects

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Abstract

We assessed the contribution of serum homocysteine levels, an independent risk factor for vascular disease, and of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation to the variability of carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) in patients with non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Ninety-five patients (33 males and 62 females, mean age 53 ± 10 years) without nephropathy or other vascular complications were enrolled. Fasting total serum homocysteine and other biochemical analytes were measured. The MTHFR polymorphism was determined by the polymerase chain reaction. Common carotid IMT and plaques or stenoses in the carotid district were measured by ultrasonography. Serum total homocysteine concentrations were higher in subjects with the mutant (Val/Val) genotype than in those with the Ala/Val plus Ala/Ala genotypes (P = 0.02). On univariate analysis, carotid IMT was significantly associated with age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterolemia. No significant association was found between IMT and serum homocysteine or the MTHFR polymorphism, although a slightly greater IMT was observed in the homozygous Val genotypes. On multiple regression analysis, only age and BMI were independently associated with IMT and explained about 40% of IMT variability. The results did not change when the analysis was restricted to the subgroups with or without atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid district. In 95 Italian NIDDM patients without nephropathy, neither basal levels of serum total homocysteine nor the MTHFR C677T polymorphism predicted significant changes in common carotid intimal-medial thickness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, 2nd University of Naples, Italy

    Alfredo Mazza

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Corradino Motti & Claudio Cortese

  3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University “Federico II”, Naples

    Angela Nulli & Pasquale Bianco

  4. “Bambin Gesù” Hospital, Rome

    Anna Pastore & Giorgio Federici

  5. Institute of Medical Physiopathology, 2nd University of Naples, Italy

    Vincenzo Ammaturo & Elena Santoro

  6. Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University, Rome

    Felicita Andreotti

Authors
  1. Alfredo Mazza
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  2. Corradino Motti
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  3. Angela Nulli
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  4. Anna Pastore
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  6. Vincenzo Ammaturo
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  7. Pasquale Bianco
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  8. Elena Santoro
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  9. Giorgio Federici
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  10. Claudio Cortese
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Correspondence to Claudio Cortese.

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Mazza, A., Motti, C., Nulli, A. et al. Serum Homocysteine, MTHFR Gene Polymorphism, and Carotid Intimal-Medial Thickness in NIDDM Subjects. J Thromb Thrombolysis 8, 207–212 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008962220476

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