July - September 2013, Volume 9, Issue 3

Ren H, Tan S., Zhang Y., Lin Z., Liu W., Peng D., Hu J

A Meta-analysis of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene C677T Polymorphism and Diabetic Retinopathy

Acta Endo (Buc) 2013, 9 (3): 445-454
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2013.445

Context. Results concerning the relationship between the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy (DR) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genetic variant (MTHFR C677T) are inconclusive. Objective. The aim of the present analysis was to investigate the associations of DR with MTHFR C677T. Design and Methods. We searched the relevant articles by using Medline, web of science, and abstracts of conference proceedings. The meta-analysis was performed using Stata. Results. The included 7 studies provided 535 cases of DR and 759 controls. The main analysis for investigating the association between MTHFR 677 TT and the risk of developing DR relative to the 677 CC did not reveal significant heterogeneity (p=0.227, I2=27.6%) between the studies; the fixed effects (FE) pooled OR was significant: FE OR=1.84(1.30-2.61). The analysis for the association between MTHFR 677 TT and the risk of developing DR relative to the 677 CC+CT revealed heterogeneity (p=0.082, I2=48.9%) between the studies; the random effects (RE) pooled OR was significant: RE OR=1.72(1.07-2.76). In addition, T carriers have 31% higher risk of developing DR compared with homozygotes for C [OR=1.31(1.03-1.66)]. Conclusions. The present metaanalysis suggested an association between MTHFR C677T and DR and provided evidence that the TT genotype of the MTHFR C677T contributes to susceptibility to DR.

Keywords: meta-analysis, MTHFR, polymorphism, diabetic retinopathy.

Correspondence: Jinxing Hu MD, “Johns Hopkins” University, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, 5501 Hopkins Bayview, JHAAC 4A8, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States, E-mail: hujinxing2000@163.com