title: No association between catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Japanese children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study ascertained the association between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Japanese children and a polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), a dopamine-control gene. The secondary aim of the study was the evaluation of a putative association between methylphenidate (MPH) effect/adverse effects and the COMT genotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  To ascertain the distribution of the Val158Met variant of COMT, 50 children meeting ADHD inclusion criteria were compared with 32 healthy children. Clinical improvement and the occurrence of adverse effects were measured before and 3 months after MPH administration in children with ADHD, and analyzed for genotype association. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III), age, MPH dose were included as co-variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The occurrence of the COMT Val/Val genotype was significantly higher in children with ADHD (χ(2)(1)=7.13, p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the Val/Val genotype according to disorder, and WISC and ADHD rating scale scores, after correcting for the interaction between disorder and COMT genotype. Furthermore, no significant difference in MPH effect/adverse effects was observed in association with the COMT genotype in the ADHD group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed a lack of association between the COMT Val/Val genotype and ADHD in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
authors.forename: Chiho
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yatsuga
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Daiki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Toyohisa
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi X
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Tokyo University and Graduate School of Social Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Medical Research Institute, Medical Genomics, Molecular Epidemiology, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Medical Research Institute, Medical Genomics, Molecular Epidemiology, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrative Omics and Bioinformatics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akinobu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan. Electronic address: atomoda@u-fukui.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomoda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate; C588010:COMT protein, human; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase
keywords: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT); Japanese population; Methylphenidate (MPH)