Val158Met polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is not associated with tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene V158M single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) influences susceptibility to tardive dyskinesia (TD).

METHODS

We examined 209 Korean schizophrenic patients using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), with genotyping performed for the COMT gene V158M SNP.

RESULTS

The logistic regression analysis showed that old age [p = 0.032, OR = 1.40 (OR corresponds to 10-year), 95% CI = 1.03-1.90] was a risk factor for TD, but there was no significant association between the COMT genotype and TD. The heterozygotes (MV genotype) of the COMT gene polymorphism tended to develop TD less than homozygotes (MM and VV); however, the risk did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.050, OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.00-3.29).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the V158M SNP of the COMT gene is not associated with TD in schizophrenia. However, there is a tendency that the heterozygous genotype of the COMT gene polymorphism has a protective effect against TD. Further investigations are warranted to evaluate a molecular heterosis of this polymorphism in development of TD in a large sample of subjects.