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Polymorphisms C677T and A1298C in the MTHFR gene in Mexican patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate: implication with elevation of transaminases

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 11, pages 287–291 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the prototype of the rheumatic diseases worldwide. Methotrexate (MTX) is the drug of first choice in the treatment of this disease due to its immunosuppressant effect. However, side events are present in 30% of the patients. The C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are involved in the metabolism of MTX. Earlier studies reported an association between these polymorphisms and elevation of hepatic enzymes. We analyzed the frequencies of both polymorphisms and the presence of transaminasemia in 70 Mexican patients with rheumatic arthritis treated with MTX. The 19% (13/70) of patients had an increase in the serum level of transaminases. The A1298C polymorphism was associated with elevation of transaminases (P=0.024). The identification of MTHFR genotypes for C677T and A1298C polymorphisms could lead clinicians to identify patients in risk of elevation of transaminases, and give them an individualized treatment, as is a goal of pharmacogenetics.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Fondo para el Fomento de la Investigación Médica (FOFOI), IMSS-2002/252/037, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, México (CONACYT), and CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Jal. México.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctorado en Genética Humana, Instituto de Genética Humana, Centro Universitario Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara (U de G), Guadalajara, Mexico

    J P Mena & I P Dávalos

  2. Departamento de Fisiología, División de Investigación, Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente (CMNO), IMSS y Doctorado en Farmacología, CUCS, U de G, Guadalajara, México

    M Salazar-Páramo & J I Gámez-Nava

  3. Departamento de Medicina Interna-Reumatología, Hospital General Regional (HGR) 110, IMSS, Guadalajara, México

    L González-López, J I Gámez-Nava & J D Sánchez

  4. División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara, México

    L Sandoval-Ramirez, L E Figuera & I P Dávalos

  5. Instituto de Investigación en Reumatología y del Sistema Musculoesquelético, CUCS, U de G, Guadalajara, México

    F J Muñoz-Valle & M Vazquez del Mercado

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  1. J P Mena
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  2. M Salazar-Páramo
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Correspondence to I P Dávalos.

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Mena, J., Salazar-Páramo, M., González-López, L. et al. Polymorphisms C677T and A1298C in the MTHFR gene in Mexican patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate: implication with elevation of transaminases. Pharmacogenomics J 11, 287–291 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/tpj.2010.32

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