Polymorphisms of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and cystathionine beta-synthase genes as a risk factor for neural tube defects in Sétif, Algeria.

Background: Neural tube defects (NTD) are severe congenital malformations due to a failure in neural tube formation at the beginning of pregnancy. The etiology of NTD is multifactorial, with environmental and genetic determinants. We suggest a study of gene-gene interactions regarding the possible association of NTD with specific mutations of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) genes.

The prevalence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C-T, factor V 1691 G-A, and prothrombin 20210 G-A mutations in healthy populations in Setif, Algeria.

The polymorphic mutation 677 C-T in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene presents a heterogeneous worldwide distribution and is associated with different disorders such as cardiovascular disease. Its frequency shows great ethnic and geographic variations. The aim of this work is to determine the frequency of MTHFR 677 C-T and coexistence of MTHFR 677 C-T with 2 other common, hereditary thrombophilia causes-namely, factor V 1691 G-A and prothrombin (PT) 20210 G-A mutation-in the Sétif region of Algeria.