A doença vascular do transplante apresenta fisiopatogenia semelhante a do processo de envelhecimento
vascular e da aterosclerose. Conseqüentemente, genes cujas enzimas estão ligadas a esse processo, como a
enzima metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase (MTHFR) que participa do metabolismo da homocisteÃna e formação
da placa aterosclerótica, passaram a ser valorizados no processo etiopatológico da disfunção crônica do
transplante (DCTx). Neste estudo, as freqüências dos polimorfismos MTHFR (C677T e A1298C) e os nÃveis
plasmáticos de homocisteÃna (Hcy) foram avaliados em 45 pacientes submetidos a transplante renal no mÃnimo
há 12 meses, 21 com DCTx e 24 com função renal normal (FN). A quantificação da homocisteÃna foi realizada
por cromatografia lÃquida/espectrometria de massas seqüencial (LC-MS/MS) e a investigação dos polimorfismos
MTHFR pela análise de comprimento de fragmentos de restrição (PCR-RFLP). O genótipo 677CT/1298AC
foi associado ao nÃvel moderado de Hcy em pacientes com DCTx.
Vascular disease in renal transplant patients presents a similar physiopathology as vascular aging and
atherosclerotic processes. Consequently, genes whose enzymes are linked to this process, such as methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme (MTHFR) that participates in the metabolic degradation of homocysteine
and the formation of the atherosclerotic lesion, are considered important in the etiopathic process of
chronic renal failure (CAN). In this study, MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms frequencies and plasma
homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations were analyzed in 45 renal transplant recipients, 21 with CAN and 24 with
normal renal function (NFR), all of them underwent renal transplant at least 12 months earlier. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LS-MS/MS)
and MTHFR polymorphisms were investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
The 677CT/129AC genotype was associated with the moderate level of homocysteine in patients with CAN.
