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Moti Wala S, AlEdani EM, Samuel EA, Ahmad K, Manongi NJ, Rajapandian R, Khan S. Exploring the Nexus: A Systematic Review on the Interplay of the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene C677T Genotype, Hyperhomocysteinemia, and Spontaneous Cervical/Vertebral Artery Dissection in Young Adults. Cureus 2024; 16:e60878. [PMID: 38910639 PMCID: PMC11192624 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Ischemic strokes (IS) in young adults often evade early detection, resulting in delayed diagnosis until complications arise. Cervical/vertebral artery dissection, a significant contributor to these strokes, presents with symptoms such as migraine with aura, severe headache, and neck pain, commonly overlooked due to their nonspecific nature. This review investigates early indicators of artery dissections, emphasizing their importance in diagnosis and exploring the correlation between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T genotype polymorphism, hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY), and IS in young adults. This systematic review encompasses a thorough analysis of 11 papers, including four observational studies, three case reports, three narrative reviews, and one experimental study, involving 4,840 patients aged 18-45 years. Findings reveal HHCY as a significant contributor to vascular damage and tissue ischemia leading to IS. The MTHFR gene C677T genotype polymorphism is closely associated with HHCY, often contributing to underdiagnosed strokes in young adults. Cervical/vertebral artery dissection may manifest as initial symptoms of neck pain or headache, remaining undiagnosed until imaging is conducted. Importantly, the review suggests that MTHFR gene polymorphism can be mitigated through simple supplementation with vitamin B12 and folates, serving as a valuable tool for primary prevention. Additionally, betaine, a methyl donor, was explored in severe MTHFR gene polymorphism cases resistant to conventional supplementation. In conclusion, recognizing the significance of early signs and symptoms, along with a high clinical suspicion, is crucial for preventing catastrophic outcomes, mortality, and morbidity associated with IS in young adults lacking traditional risk factors. The MTHFR gene C677T genotype polymorphism, a potential genetic cause, can be easily managed with simple measures but is often overlooked or underdiagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajida Moti Wala
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Esraa M AlEdani
- Dermatology, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Essa A Samuel
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Khoula Ahmad
- internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Naelijwa J Manongi
- Family Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Ramkumar Rajapandian
- Trauma and Orthopaedics, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Safeera Khan
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
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Marelli C, Lavigne C, Stepien KM, Janssen MCH, Feillet F, Kožich V, Jesina P, Schule R, Kessler C, Redonnet-Vernhet I, Regnier A, Burda P, Baumgartner M, Benoist JF, Huemer M, Mochel F. Clinical and molecular characterization of adult patients with late-onset MTHFR deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis 2021; 44:777-786. [PMID: 33089527 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency usually presents as a severe neonatal disease. This study aimed to characterize natural history, biological and molecular data, and response to treatment of patients with late-onset MTHFR deficiency. The patients were identified through the European Network and Registry for Homocystinuria and Methylation Defects and the Adult group of the French Society for Inherited Metabolic Diseases; data were retrospectively colleted. To identify juvenile to adult-onset forms of the disease, we included patients with a diagnosis established after the age of 10 years. We included 14 patients (median age at diagnosis: 32 years; range: 11-54). At onset (median age: 20 years; range 9-38), they presented with walking difficulties (n = 8), cognitive decline (n = 3) and/or seizures (n = 3), sometimes associated with mild mental retardation (n = 6). During the disease course, symptoms were almost exclusively neurological with cognitive dysfunction (93%), gait disorders (86%), epilepsy (71%), psychiatric symptoms (57%), polyneuropathy (43%), and visual deficit (43%). Mean diagnostic delay was 14 years. Vascular events were observed in 28% and obesity in 36% of the patients. One patient remained asymptomatic at the age of 55 years. Upon treatment, median total homocysteine decreased (from 183 μmol/L, range 69-266, to 90 μmol/L, range 20-142) and symptoms improved (n = 9) or stabilized (n = 4). Missense pathogenic variants in the C-terminal regulatory domain of the protein were over-represented compared to early-onset cases. Residual MTHFR enzymatic activity in skin fibroblasts (n = 4) was rather high (17%-58%). This series of patients with late-onset MTHFR deficiency underlines the still unmet need of a prompt diagnosis of this treatable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Marelli
- Expert Centre for Neurogenetic Diseases and Adult Mitochondrial and Metabolic Diseases, Univ Montpellier, CHU, Montpellier, France
- MMDN, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Christian Lavigne
- Internal Medicine Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Karolina M Stepien
- Adult Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Care Organisation, Northern Care Alliance, Salford, UK
| | - Mirian C H Janssen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Francois Feillet
- Reference Center for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Pediatric unit, University Hospital of Nancy, Nancy, France
- INSERM UMR_S 1256, Nutrition, Genetics, and Environmental Risk Exposure (NGERE), Faculty of Medicine of Nancy, Nancy, France
| | - Viktor Kožich
- Department of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Charles University-First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Jesina
- Department of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Charles University-First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Rebecca Schule
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Kessler
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Isabelle Redonnet-Vernhet
- lNSERM U1211, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Centre de référence pour les maladies mitochondriales de l'enfant à l'adulte (CARAMMEL), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Adeline Regnier
- Department of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine of Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Patricie Burda
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Baumgartner
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Francois Benoist
- Biochemistry Laboratory Robert-Debré University Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
- LYPSIS2, Université Paris-Saclay, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Martina Huemer
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Paediatrics Landeskrankenhaus Bregenz, Austria
| | - Fanny Mochel
- APHP, La Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Department of Genetics, Paris, France
- Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France
- APHP, La Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Reference Center for Adult Neurometabolic diseases, Paris, France
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