No association between chronic musculoskeletal complaints and Val158Met polymorphism in the Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene. The HUNT study.
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.
Hagen
Knut
K
Department of Clinical Neuroscience; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. knut.hagen@ntnu.no
Pettersen
Elin
E
Stovner
Lars Jacob
LJ
Skorpen
Frank
F
Zwart
John-Anker
JA