Association of Methylentetraydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) 677 C > T gene polymorphism and homocysteine levels in psoriasis vulgaris patients from Malaysia: a case-control study

This case-control study (n = 367) was conducted to investigate the correlation of the MTHFR gene polymorphism [NM_005957] and psoriasis vulgaris amongst the Malaysian population. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected from a subgroup of consented psoriasis vulgaris patients and matched controls (n = 84) for the quantification of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels.There was no significant increase of the MTHFR 677 C > T mutation in patients with psoriasis vulgaris compared with controls (χ2 = 0.733, p = 0.392). No significant association between homocysteine levels and MTHFR gene polymorphism in cases and controls were observed (F = 0.91, df = 3, 80, p = 0.44). However, homocysteine levels in cases were negatively correlated with vitamin B12 (r = -0.173) and folic acid (r = -0.345) levels. Vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in cases were also negatively correlated (r = -0.164).Our results indicate that there was no significant association between the MTHFR gene polymorphism and psoriasis vulgaris in the Malaysian population. There was no significant increase of the plasma homocysteine level in the psoriasis patients compared to the controls.Psoriasis vulgaris also known as chronic plaque psoriasis, is a common subtype of psoriasis that affects about 80% of psoriatic patients worldwide [1]. Psoriasis has a prevalence of 1-2% worldwide and it affects both sexes equally [2]. The incidence in Malaysia is about 2.15% [3]. Till date, the exact pathogenesis of this disease is still unclear. Many different postulated aetiological hypotheses have been forwarded to explain the pathogenesis of the disease, yet the more convincing evidences are being the genetic, environmental and immunological factors [4] . However, in the last two decades, the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and psoriasis vulgaris has attracted great interest amongst researchers worldwide. The contradicting results obtained from different st