The Netherlands journal of medicine
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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. ⋯ 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.