Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and glutathione S-transferase P1 A313G are associated with a reduced risk of preeclampsia in Maya-Mestizo women

Preeclampsia, a common complication of pregnancy, is characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria developing after 20 weeks' gestational age. Susceptibility to this syndrome is believed to have a genetic component. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) A313G polymorphisms are associated with preeclampsia in Maya-Mestizo women. A case-control study was performed, in which 125 preeclamptic patients and 274 healthy controls were genotyped for the MTHFR C677T and GSTP1 A313G polymorphisms by real-time PCR allelic discrimination. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared using the chi(2) tests. The MTHFR 677T allele and the 677TT genotype were significantly more frequent in the controls, suggesting an association with a decreased risk of preeclampsia (p = 0.017 and p = 0.007, respectively). Similarly, GSTP1 313GG/GC genotypes and the G allele were more frequent in controls, showing a significant association with reduced risk of preeclampsia (p = 0.008 and p = 0.013, respectively). Our results suggest, for the first time, that the MTHFR 677T and GSTP1 313G polymorphisms confer a significantly decreased risk of developing preeclampsia in the Mexican Maya-Mestizo population.