Pain sensitivity in fibromyalgia is associated with catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene. (24th April 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martínez‐Jauand, M.; Sitges, C.; Rodríguez, V.; Picornell, A.; Ramon, M.; Buskila, D.; Montoya, P.
• Is Part Of: European journal of pain. Volume 17:Number 1(2013)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 27
• Publication Date: 2012-04-24
• Subjects: Pain -- Periodicals; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Pain -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2012.00153.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-3801

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ejp153-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Recent evidence suggests that genetic factors might contribute to individual differences in pain sensitivity, risk for developing clinical pain conditions and efficacy of pain treatments. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship of three common haplotypes of <italic>COMT</italic> gene affecting the metabolism of catecholamines on pain sensitivity in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).</p> </sec> <sec id="ejp153-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>One hundred and thirteen FM patients and 65 age‐matched healthy volunteers participated in the study. We genotyped four single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs6269, rs4633, rs4818 and rs4680 or <italic>Val158Met</italic>) and identified haplotypes previously designated as low (LPS), average (APS) and high pain sensitivity (HPS). Thermal, pressure and touch thresholds were also examined using a quantitative sensory testing protocol.</p> </sec> <sec id="ejp153-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The frequency of genetic variations associated with low <italic>COMT</italic> enzyme activity was significantly higher in FM patients than in healthy volunteers. FM patients were more sensitive to experimental pain than healthy volunteers and, in particular, FM individuals with the <italic>met</italic>/<italic>met</italic> genotype (<italic>Val158Met</italic> SNP) or the HPS‐APS haplotypes showing higher sensitivity to thermal and pressure pain stimuli than patients carrying the LPS haplotype or <italic>val</italic> alleles (<italic>Val158Met</italic> SNP). No differences due to genotype or haplotypes were found on non‐painful touch thresholds.</p> </sec> <sec id="ejp153-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>According with previous research, our findings revealed that haplotypes of the <italic>COMT</italic> gene and genotypes of the <italic>Val158Met</italic> polymorphism play a key role on pain sensitivity in FM patients.</p> </sec> </abstract>