title: Pain sensitivity in fibromyalgia is associated with catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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 COMT gene affecting the metabolism of catecholamines on pain sensitivity in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).
  
  
  METHODS
  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 Val158Met) 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of genetic variations associated with low COMT 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 met/met genotype (Val158Met SNP) or the HPS-APS haplotypes showing higher sensitivity to thermal and pressure pain stimuli than patients carrying the LPS haplotype or val alleles (Val158Met SNP). No differences due to genotype or haplotypes were found on non-painful touch thresholds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According with previous research, our findings revealed that haplotypes of the COMT gene and genotypes of the Val158Met polymorphism play a key role on pain sensitivity in FM patients.
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Health Sciences Research (IUNICS), University of Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Jauand
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sitges
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picornell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buskila
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montoya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011312:Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase