The 844ins68 cystathionine beta-synthase and C677T MTHFR gene polymorphism and the vaso-occlusive event risk in sickle cell disease

INTRODUCTION Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inflammatory condition with an increase in the adhesion of sickled erythrocytes, and it is a potential cause of vaso-occlusive episodes, an event related to clinical manifestations, morbidity and mortality. The cystathionine beta-synthase enzyme gene (CBS) and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme gene (MTHFR) are risk factors for thromboembolic disorders. This study evaluated the frequency of the 844ins68 CBS and C677T MTHFR gene polymorphisms and their possibility to be risk factors for vaso-occlusive crises. MATERIAL AND METHODS In total 91 blood samples from SCD patients were studied by PCR-RFLP and PCR-allele-specific, for the SCD genotype confirmation and polymorphism identification. RESULTS The presence of clinical manifestations related to vaso-occlusive crises were more frequent among patients with the Hb SS genotype (p = 0.007). The CBS enzyme gene was three times more frequent (p = 0.011) among patients with vaso-occlusive complications. The MTHFR gene mutation frequency showed no increased risk for vaso-occlusive crises in SCD patients (p = 0.193). The interaction between the two polymorphisms was evaluated in 12.08% of the SCD patients and doubled the vaso-occlusive disease risk (relative risk: 2.16). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the presence of 844ins68 CBS and C677T MTHFR gene polymorphism was a risk factor for vaso-occlusive episodes in the SCD patients evaluated.