Association of catechol-O-methyltransferase Val 108/158 Met polymorphism with essential hypertension

Abstract

To explore the association of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val 108/158 Met polymorphism with essential hypertension in Chinese population. COMT Val 108/158 Met polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in a case-control study, including 215 hypertensive patients (hypertensive group, n=215) and 227 controls (control group, n=227). 1)There was no significant difference in the frequency distribution of genotypic (Val/Val, Val/Met, and Met/Met) and the allelic of COMT gene Val 108/158 Met polymorphism between the 2 groups (P>0.05). 2) After gender stratification, there was no significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequency distribution in men or women between the 2 groups (P>0.05). 3) After risk stratification of hypertension, there was no significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequency distribution between the low risk, middle risk, high risk and very high risk grades (P>0.05). 4) Raised body mass index, blood glucose and low-density lipoprotein, and hypertension family history were risk factors for hypertension by logistic regression analysis, while genotype had no effect on the occurrence of hypertension. No relationship between COMT Val 108/158 Met polymorphism and essential hypertension has been found.