There have been several indications that cellular methylation pathways might be affected in multiple sclerosis (MS). We have investigated 150 MS patients for a biallelic polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, since the less frequent of these alleles is functionally relevant and is associated with reduced enzymatic function. However, the distribution of alleles and genotypes was found to be close to identical in MS patients and healthy controls, regardless of subgroup analysis after clinical form or HLA class II phenotype. We conclude that this polymorphism does not influence susceptibility to MS.
1997 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.