In conclusion, the presence of three or more polymorphic alleles for MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, MTR A2756G, and RFC1 A80G, and plasma Hcy concentrations higher than 4.99 micromol/L are maternal risk factors for DS.
To investigate whether the polymorphism in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene involved in folate metabolism is associated with Down syndrome (DS).
This is yet the largest case-control study conducted for MTHFR 677C > T and also the first to investigate a possible relation with MTHFR 1298A > C. The data presented in this study fail to support the relationship between MTHFR 677C > T and 1298A > C polymorphisms and risk of having a child with DS.
A plausible biochemical interpretation of these results is presented based on a maternal-fetal MTHFR 677T allele interaction in the context of the constitutive overexpression of three copies of the cystathionine beta synthase gene in the trisomy 21 fetus.Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.