Elevated Plasma Homocysteine Was Associated With Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke, but Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene C677T Polymorphism Was a Risk Factor for Thrombotic Stroke

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Abstract
Background and Purpose— It is still controversial whether elevated plasma homocysteine and the C677T polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are risk factors for stroke. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the 2 factors and stroke in Chinese in a large case-control study. Methods— We recruited 1823 stroke patients (807 cerebral thrombosis, 513 lacunar infarction, 503 intracerebral hemorrhage) and 1832 controls. Total plasma homocysteine was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. C677T polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and HinfI digestion. Results— Total plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in cases than controls (median, 14.7 versus 12.8 μmol/L; P<0.001) and associated with an increased risk of 1.87-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58 to 2.22) for overall stroke, 1.72-fold (95% CI, 1.39 to 2.12) for cerebral thrombosis, 1.89-fold (95% CI, 1.50 to 2.40) for lacunar infarction, and 1.94-fol...