Influence of the catechol- O-methyltransferase Val108/158Met polymorphism on the plasma concentration of catecholamine metabolites and on clinical features in type I bipolar disorder—A preliminary report

The activity of catechol- O-methyltransferase (COMT) may be related to psychosis susceptibility. The Val108/158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene influences its enzymatic activity and may result in altered concentrations of monoamine metabolites and different clinical responses of patients to pharmac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of affective disorders 2006-06, Vol.92 (2), p.277-281
Main Authors: Dávila, Ricardo, Zumárraga, Mercedes, Basterreche, Nieves, Arrúe, Aurora, Zamalloa, M. Isabel, Anguiano, Juan B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use
Benzodiazepines - therapeutic use
Biogenic Monoamines - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar Disorder - blood
Bipolar Disorder - drug therapy
Bipolar Disorder - genetics
Bipolar disorders
Catechol O-Methyltransferase - blood
Catechol O-Methyltransferase - genetics
Catechol- O-methyltransferase
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Gene Expression - genetics
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Genotype
Homovanillic acid
Homovanillic Acid - blood
Humans
Lithium Carbonate - therapeutic use
Male
Medical sciences
Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol - blood
Middle Aged
Mood disorders
Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics
Prevalence
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychosis
Psychotic Disorders - blood
Psychotic Disorders - drug therapy
Psychotic Disorders - epidemiology
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:The activity of catechol- O-methyltransferase (COMT) may be related to psychosis susceptibility. The Val108/158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene influences its enzymatic activity and may result in altered concentrations of monoamine metabolites and different clinical responses of patients to pharmacological treatments. We examined in a sample of 42 bipolar patients if the Val108/158Met polymorphism influences: (a) the presence of psychosis in type I bipolar patients; (b) the blood plasma concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), which are metabolites of dopamine and noradrenaline respectively and (c) the severity of the clinical characteristics of these patients and their response to pharmacological treatment. No significant associations were found between the studied COMT genotypes and the studied parameters. However, a non-significant aggregation of bipolar patients presenting with psychosis was found in the homozygous Val-Val group. Clinical improvement was found to significantly correlate with the levels of plasma MHPG prior to treatment. Moreover, a significant difference was found between the standard deviations of the concentrations of HVA in the three genotypes, but not in their mean values. Significant associations were not detected between COMT polymorphisms and the initial severity of the disorder, or the clinical response to pharmacological treatment. The size of the studied sample is somewhat small and comparisons have been made with a previously studied control group. The Val108/158Met polymorphism does not appear to be a crucial determinant in type I bipolar disorder.
ISSN:0165-0327
1573-2517
DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2006.02.009