Open AccessCatechol-O-methyltransferase polymorphism Val158Met is associated with distal neuropathic pain in HIV-associated sensory neuropathy
Author(s) -
Jennie Xu,
Anya Umlauf,
Scott Letendre,
Dean Franklin,
William S. Bush,
J. Hampton Atkinson,
John R. Keltner,
Ronald J. Ellis
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
aids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.195
H-Index - 216
eISSN - 1473-5571
pISSN - 0269-9370
DOI - 10.1097/qad.0000000000002240
Subject(s) - catechol o methyl transferase , medicine , neuropathic pain , asymptomatic , odds ratio , allele , genetic predisposition , chronic pain , psychiatry , genetics , anesthesia , biology , disease , gene
Many of those aging with HIV suffer from distal neuropathic pain (DNP) due to HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN). Prior studies have linked chronic pain conditions to a variant of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), ValMet. This variant confers reduced enzymatic activity and results in higher synaptic dopamine levels. Here we examined the role of ValMet as a predictor of DNP in HIV-SN.