%0 Journal Article
%T Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene: Their impact on liver steatosis and fibrosis of chronic hepatitis c patients
%A Engin Altintas
%A Zuhal Mert Altintas
%A Orhan Sezgin
%A Enver Ucbilek
%A Erdinc Nayir
%A Mehmet Emin Erdal
%A Ayse Polat
%A Gulhan Orekeci
%J Open Journal of Gastroenterology
%P 73-80
%@ 2163-9469
%D 2014
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojgas.2014.42013
%X <span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;font-family:;\" \"=\"\">Aim &amp; Background: The
mechanism of steatosis in Hepatitis C virus infection is multifactorial;
therefore, it is complex and unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate
the effects of methylentetrahydrofolate <span>reductase
(MTHFR) gene polymorphisms on the course</span> of chronic hepatitis C virus
infection and the development of steatosis due to hepatitis C virus. Methods:
This study included 109 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Necroinflammatory activity, degrees of fibrosis and steatosis and MTHFR gene
polymorphisms were investigated. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction
fragment length polymorphism was used to determine MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. Results: Fibrosis was correlated with age (r = 0.336, p = 0.002),
platelet (r = ?0.448, p &lt; 0.0001), ALT (r = 0.241, p = 0.026), AST (r = 0.361)
and GGT (r = 0.224, p = 0.039). Steatosis was only correlated with fibrosis.
MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms did not have a significant effect on the
degree of steatosis (p = 0.857, p = 0.202 respectively). There <span>was a relation between MTHFR C677T and the degree
of fibrosis but not A1298C (p = 0.014, p = 0.187 respectively). Conclusion:
We found that MTHFR C677T polymorphism contributed to the development</span><span> of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C
virus infection.</span></span>
%K Fibrosis
%K Hepatitis C
%K Gene Polymorphism
%K Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase
%K Steatosis
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=42891