The graded effect of hyperhomocysteinemia on the severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis

It is not clear to what extent methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR) gene and hyperhomocysteinemia effect the severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis in Asian populations. We examined the MTHFR genotypes and plasma homocysteine (HCY) concentrations in 192 Taiwanese and investigated their relationship with coronary artery disease (CAD), and the severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis. The distribution of MTHFR genotypes was similar in 116 CAD patients and 76 non-CAD subjects. Homozygosity was noted in 8% of CAD patients and 13% of non-CAD subjects ( P=0.33; 95% CI, 0.2–1.6). The geometric mean of HCY values was higher in CAD patients (11.10±1.51 μmol/l) than in non-CAD subjects (9.21±1.55 μmol/l) ( P=0.003). HCY levels were higher in patients with multi-vessel disease ( P