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Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Polymorphism and Endometriosis

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Abstract

Purpose : Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates the estradiol metabolites, 2-hydroxy and 4-hydroxy catechols, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. A COMT valine to methionine polymorphism (G-to-A) in exon 4 of the COMT gene is polymorphic in the human population, with 25% of Caucasians being homozygous for the low-activity allele (COMT-L) of the enzyme. In a case-control study we investigated whether this COMT polymorphism is associated with endometriosis.

Methods : Polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the COMT genotype among women with surgically and histologically confirmed endometriosis (study group; n = 91) and in women without evidence of endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopy or laparotomy (control group; n = 92).

Results : Allele frequencies for the low-activity allele (COMT-L) among women with endometriosis and controls were 0.50 and 0.50, respectively (p = 0.999; odds ratio = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.66–1.51).

Conclusions : Our results suggest that the valine to methionine polymorphism in exon 4 of the COMT gene is not associated with the risk of endometriosis compared to a surgical control population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecological Endocrinology & Assisted Reproduction, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    Fritz Wieser, Rene Wenzl, Christoph Worda, Johannes Huber & Christian Schneeberger

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Clemens Tempfer

Authors
  1. Fritz Wieser
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  2. Rene Wenzl
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  3. Clemens Tempfer
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  4. Christoph Worda
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  5. Johannes Huber
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  6. Christian Schneeberger
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Correspondence to Rene Wenzl.

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Wieser, F., Wenzl, R., Tempfer, C. et al. Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Polymorphism and Endometriosis. J Assist Reprod Genet 19, 343–348 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016062726783

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016062726783

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