<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) enzyme has a role in the inactivation of catecholamine neurotransmitters. Functional polymorphism in the <italic>COMT</italic> gene has been reported to play an important role in schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, aggressive and antisocial behavior, suicide attempts and the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the Vall58Met polymorphism of the <italic>COMT</italic> gene on substance use, and treatment history in patients with synthetic cannabinoid (SC) intoxication. The <italic>COMT</italic> enzyme Val158Met polymorphisms from DNA of 49 patients who were evaluated in the Emergency Department after SC use and 50 healthy control groups aged 18-45 years, were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses as reported in the literature. Information regarding recurrent intake or hospitalization due to substance use was obtained from hospital records. Wild-type (WT) genotypes in 14 (28.6%) patients, heterozygous genotypes in 25 (51.0%) and homozygous genotypes in 10 (20.4%) patients were detected. Wild-type genotypes The homozygous genotype was found to be significantly higher in patients hospitalized due to drug addiction and substance use <italic>(p</italic> 0.008). The Vall58 Met polymorphism of the <italic>COMT</italic> gene was not found to be significant in the first use after substance intake, while a significant relationship was found in terms of this polymorphism in patients with substance addiction diagnosis and treatment history.</p></abstract>

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) enzyme has a role in the inactivation of catecholamine neurotransmitters. Functional polymorphism in the COMT gene has been reported to play an important role in schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, aggressive and antisocial behavior, suicide attempts and the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the Vall58Met polymorphism of the COMT gene on substance use, and treatment history in patients with synthetic cannabinoid (SC) intoxication. The COMT enzyme Val158Met polymorphisms from DNA of 49 patients who were evaluated in the Emergency Department after SC use and 50 healthy control groups aged 18-45 years, were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses as reported in the literature. Information regarding recurrent intake or hospitalization due to substance use was obtained from hospital records. Wild-type (WT) genotypes in 14 (28.6%) patients, heterozygous genotypes in 25 (51.0%) and homozygous genotypes in 10 (20.4%) patients were detected. Wild-type genotypes The homozygous genotype was found to be significantly higher in patients hospitalized due to drug addiction and substance use (p 0.008). The Vall58 Met polymorphism of the COMT gene was not found to be significant in the first use after substance intake, while a significant relationship was found in terms of this polymorphism in patients with substance addiction diagnosis and treatment history.

An investigation of the <italic>COMT</italic> gene Val158Met polymorphism in patients admitted to the emergency department because of synthetic cannabinoid use

Balkan Journal of Medical Genetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

An investigation of the  gene Val158Met polymorphism in patients admitted to the emergency department because of synthetic cannabinoid use

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) enzyme has a role in the inactivation of catecholamine neurotransmitters. Functional polymorphism in the COMT gene has...

		Patients (n=49)	Controls (n=50)
Gender	Males	48 (98.0%)	48 (96.0%)
	Females	1 (2.0%)	2 (4.0%)
Age		26.7±6.9	32.4±7.2
Genotype	Wild-type	14	20
	Heterozygotes	25	22
	Homozygotes	10	8

			Genotypic Characteristics Total (n)		Total (n)
			Wild-Type	Homozygotes
Hospitalization	yes	n(%)	33 (82.2)	4 (10.8)	37 (100.0)
	no	n(%)	6 (50.0)	6 (50.0)	12 (100.0)
Total (n)		n(%)	39 (79.6)	10 (20.4%)	49 (100.0)

An investigation of the COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism in patients admitted to the emergency department because of synthetic cannabinoid use

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Aug 26, 2020

Page range: 63 - 68

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bjmg-2020-0010

Keywords
Addiction, Catechol-O-methyl transferase gene, Synthetic cannabinoids (SC), Val-158Met polymorphism

© 2020 Nennicioglu Y, Kaya H, Eraybar S, Atmaca S, Gorukmez O, Armagan E, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Demographic and genotypic distribution of patient and control groups.

Genotypic characteristics of patients with and without hospitalization at the Bursa Treatment and Research Center for Alcohol and Drug Addiction, Bursa, Turkey.

An investigation of the COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism in patients admitted to the emergency department because of synthetic cannabinoid use

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Aug 26, 2020

Page range: 63 - 68

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bjmg-2020-0010

KeywordsAddiction, Catechol-O-methyl transferase gene, Synthetic cannabinoids (SC), Val-158Met polymorphism

© 2020 Nennicioglu Y, Kaya H, Eraybar S, Atmaca S, Gorukmez O, Armagan E, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Demographic and genotypic distribution of patient and control groups.

Genotypic characteristics of patients with and without hospitalization at the Bursa Treatment and Research Center for Alcohol and Drug Addiction, Bursa, Turkey.

Keywords
Addiction, Catechol-O-methyl transferase gene, Synthetic cannabinoids (SC), Val-158Met polymorphism