Pharmacogenomics
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Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an enzyme that inactivates biologically-active catechols, including the important neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. These neurotransmitters are involved in numerous physiological processes, including modulation of pain. ⋯ Increased insight into how genetic variants within the COMT locus affect pain perception will contribute to improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in the development of common human pain disorders and may lead to improved strategies for pain treatment. So far, a remarkable complex relationship between COMT genotypes or haplotypes and pain phenotypes has been revealed.