Association of genetic variation in COMT gene with pain related to sickle cell disease in patients from the walk-PHaSST study

Background Vaso-occlusive pain episodes (VOEs) are the hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD), and our current understanding of disease biology, treatment, and psychological covariates does not adequately explain the variability of pain in SCD. Functional variants in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene contribute to variability in pain perception, but their impact on pain perception in African American SCD patients is not well known. Methods We studied COMT single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs6269, rs4633, rs4818, rs4680, and rs165599 to determine their relationship to patient self-reported pain, the number of acute VOEs, and their impact on daily life and health care utilization in 438 hemoglobin SS patients who participated in the walk-PHaSST study. Results In women, two risk SNPs (rs4633 and rs165599) and the corresponding haplotype (ATCAA) were associated with increased frequency of pain-related emergency room visit. Conclusion COMT functional variants may predispose SCD patients to worse acute pain in women. The association of COMT variants with the intensity of self-reported acute pain warrants further genetic study of pain perception in SCD.