Author(s)

Engin Altintas, Zuhal Mert Altintas, Orhan Sezgin, Enver Ucbilek, Erdinc Nayir, Mehmet Emin Erdal, Ayse Polat, Gulhan Orekeci

Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mersin, Mersin, Turkey.
Department of Medical Biology and Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mersin, Mersin, Turkey.
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mersin, Mersin, Turkey.
Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mersin, Mersin, Turkey.

Aim & 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 reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms on the course 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 < 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 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 of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Fibrosis; Hepatitis C; Gene Polymorphism; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase; Steatosis

Altintas, E. , Altintas, Z. , Sezgin, O. , Ucbilek, E. , Nayir, E. , Erdal, M. , Polat, A. and Orekeci, G. (2014) Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene: Their impact on liver steatosis and fibrosis of chronic hepatitis c patients. Open Journal of Gastroenterology, 4, 73-80. doi: 10.4236/ojgas.2014.42013.