title: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene variants and pain in chronic pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain is the major symptom of chronic pancreatitis. The role of genetics in pancreatic pain is unclear. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) regulates enkephalin levels and influences pain perception. The COMT gene contains functional polymorphisms that have been found to influence human pain perception. The aim of our study was to investigate COMT single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP s) and diplotypes in chronic pancreatitis patients and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We genotyped four COMT gene SNP s: c.1-98A>G (rs6269), c.186C>T (p.=) (rs4633), c.408C>G (p.=) (rs4818) and c.472G>A (p.Val158Met) (rs4680) using a dual-colour discrimination assay in 240 chronic pancreatitis patients and 445 controls. We generated five diplotypes with a frequency >0.5% and compared prevalence between patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant association between the SNPs in the COMT gene and chronic pancreatitis. The diplotype ATCA÷ACCG was more prevalent in controls compared with patients (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.93, p=0.03) where the most common diplotype GCGG ÷ATCA served as reference. However, after correction for multiple testing, this is not a significant difference. The distribution of other diplotypes was not significantly different between patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COMT SNP s and diplotypes are not associated with chronic pancreatitis. As a consequence, our results do not support a significant role for the COMT gene in chronic pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. A.vanEsch@MDL.umcn.nl
authors.forename: A A J
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van Esch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: R H M
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Te Morsche
authors.forename: M G H
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van Oijen
authors.forename: J B M J
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: J P H
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Drenth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase