Correlation analysis between MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism, serum apolipoprotein E concentration, and traumatic brain injury epilepsy

Objective: This study investigates the correlation between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T polymorphism, serum apolipoprotein E (ApoE) concentration, and the risk of epilepsy following traumatic brain injury (TBI), aiming to identify potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and intervention. Methods: A total of 60 patients with post-traumatic epilepsy (observation group) and 60 healthy controls were included. Serum ApoE concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Statistical analysis included binary logistic regression to identify independent risk factors and Spearman rank correlation to evaluate relationships between variables. Results: Serum ApoE levels were significantly higher in the observation group (36.26 ± 6.16 mg/L) compared to controls (30.19 ± 5.27 mg/L, P < 0.001). The frequency of the TT genotype and C allele was also markedly elevated in the observation group (TT: 41.67% vs. 8.33%; C allele: 56.67% vs. 31.67%, both P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified TT genotype (OR = 6.271, P < 0.001) and elevated ApoE levels (OR = 6.572, P < 0.001) as independent risk factors. A positive correlation between ApoE levels and the TT genotype was observed (r = 0.629, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The MTHFR C677T polymorphism and serum ApoE concentration are strongly associated with epilepsy after TBI. These findings suggest that they could serve as biomarkers for early identification of high-risk individuals, paving the way for targeted prevention and management strategies.