title: No association between chronic musculoskeletal complaints and Val158Met polymorphism in the Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene. The HUNT study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene contains a functional polymorphism, Val158Met, that has been found to influence human pain perception. In one study fibromyalgia was less likely among those with Val/Val genotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the 1995-97 Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), the association between Val/Met polymorphism at the COMT gene and chronic musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) was evaluated in a random sample of 3017 individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of the COMT Val158Met genotypes and alleles were similar between controls and the twelve different chronic MSCs groups. Even when the Met/Met and Val/Met genotypes were pooled, the distribution of the Val/Val genotype and other genotypes were similar between controls and the chronic MSCs groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population-based study, no significant association was found between Val/Met polymorphism at the COMT gene and chronic MSCs.
authors: Department of Clinical Neuroscience; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. knut.hagen@ntnu.no
authors: Knut
authors: K
authors: Hagen
authors: Elin
authors: E
authors: Pettersen
authors: Lars Jacob
authors: LJ
authors: Stovner
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Skorpen
authors: John-Anker
authors: JA
authors: Zwart