Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during Labour
Background: The COMT gene polymorphism is associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders and pain perception. The present study investigates the existence of anxiety and pain perception in relation to the COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene polymorphism in labouring women (during “natur...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/19/6298 |
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| author | Jadranka Šanjug Krunoslav Kuna Marina Šprem Goldštajn Lidija Fumić Dunkić Andreja Carek Dubravka Negovetić Vranić |
| author_facet | Jadranka Šanjug Krunoslav Kuna Marina Šprem Goldštajn Lidija Fumić Dunkić Andreja Carek Dubravka Negovetić Vranić |
| author_sort | Jadranka Šanjug |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COMT gene polymorphism is associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders and pain perception. The present study investigates the existence of anxiety and pain perception in relation to the COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene polymorphism in labouring women (during “natural” childbirth) with or without inhaled analgesia. Methods: A total of 181 women who chose vaginal birth were enrolled in this study. To present the difference in pain perception, the parturients were divided into one group (<i>n</i> = 90) that chose labour analgesia with inhaled nitrous oxide (50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen) and one group (<i>n</i> = 91) without analgesia. The blood samples were taken during the pregnancy as a part of routine pregnancy controls in the hospital. The COMT gene polymorphism was detected with the PCR technique. The pain perception of parturients was self-evaluated two times according to the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), and anxiety as a personality trait was determined with the STAI-T (State Trait Anxiety Inventory). Pain perception as well as anxiety were compared according to COMT genotypes. Results: In the 181 pregnant women, there were 40 women (22%) of wild homozygotes (GG) of COMT, 95 women (53%) of mutant heterozygotes (GA), and 46 women (25%) of mutant homozygotes (AA). A negative association of pain perception with the GA (mutant heterozygote) polymorphism of the COMT gene versus the wild-type (GG polymorphism) was observed. The GA polymorphism of the COMT gene was associated with 0.46 units lower pain perception compared to the wild type (GG). The anxiety trait score in group AA was lower than in groups GA and GG. The difference reached statistical significance only when comparing AA versus GA (<i>p</i> > 0.042). Analgesic efficacy of nitrous oxide was noticed in 22% of labouring women who reported moderate pain (VAS score 4–7). Conclusions: The COMT gene polymorphism was associated with pain perception and anxiety among parturients. The COMT gene polymorphism GA was associated with negative pain perception among labouring women. Nitrous oxide showed statistical significance in anxiolytic efficacy during labour in women with mild anxiety as a personality trait. Anxiolytic efficacy of nitrous oxide has shown better efficacy in parturients with the COMT gene polymorphism AA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:42:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d35eeba0d2c3498fb85efbed82d120a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:42:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-d35eeba0d2c3498fb85efbed82d120a72023-11-19T14:36:52ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832023-09-011219629810.3390/jcm12196298Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during LabourJadranka Šanjug0Krunoslav Kuna1Marina Šprem Goldštajn2Lidija Fumić Dunkić3Andreja Carek4Dubravka Negovetić Vranić5Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, General Hospital Zabok and War Veterans’ Hospital, Bračak 8, 49210 Zabok, CroatiaDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Centre, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDivision of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Fixed Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gunduliceva 5, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gunduliceva 5, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaBackground: The COMT gene polymorphism is associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders and pain perception. The present study investigates the existence of anxiety and pain perception in relation to the COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene polymorphism in labouring women (during “natural” childbirth) with or without inhaled analgesia. Methods: A total of 181 women who chose vaginal birth were enrolled in this study. To present the difference in pain perception, the parturients were divided into one group (<i>n</i> = 90) that chose labour analgesia with inhaled nitrous oxide (50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen) and one group (<i>n</i> = 91) without analgesia. The blood samples were taken during the pregnancy as a part of routine pregnancy controls in the hospital. The COMT gene polymorphism was detected with the PCR technique. The pain perception of parturients was self-evaluated two times according to the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), and anxiety as a personality trait was determined with the STAI-T (State Trait Anxiety Inventory). Pain perception as well as anxiety were compared according to COMT genotypes. Results: In the 181 pregnant women, there were 40 women (22%) of wild homozygotes (GG) of COMT, 95 women (53%) of mutant heterozygotes (GA), and 46 women (25%) of mutant homozygotes (AA). A negative association of pain perception with the GA (mutant heterozygote) polymorphism of the COMT gene versus the wild-type (GG polymorphism) was observed. The GA polymorphism of the COMT gene was associated with 0.46 units lower pain perception compared to the wild type (GG). The anxiety trait score in group AA was lower than in groups GA and GG. The difference reached statistical significance only when comparing AA versus GA (<i>p</i> > 0.042). Analgesic efficacy of nitrous oxide was noticed in 22% of labouring women who reported moderate pain (VAS score 4–7). Conclusions: The COMT gene polymorphism was associated with pain perception and anxiety among parturients. The COMT gene polymorphism GA was associated with negative pain perception among labouring women. Nitrous oxide showed statistical significance in anxiolytic efficacy during labour in women with mild anxiety as a personality trait. Anxiolytic efficacy of nitrous oxide has shown better efficacy in parturients with the COMT gene polymorphism AA.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/19/6298COMT gene polymorphismlabourpainanxietynitrous oxide |
| spellingShingle | Jadranka Šanjug Krunoslav Kuna Marina Šprem Goldštajn Lidija Fumić Dunkić Andreja Carek Dubravka Negovetić Vranić Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during Labour Journal of Clinical Medicine COMT gene polymorphism labour pain anxiety nitrous oxide |
| title | Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during Labour |
| title_full | Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during Labour |
| title_fullStr | Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during Labour |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during Labour |
| title_short | Relationship between COMT Gene Polymorphism, Anxiety, and Pain Perception during Labour |
| title_sort | relationship between comt gene polymorphism anxiety and pain perception during labour |
| topic | COMT gene polymorphism labour pain anxiety nitrous oxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/19/6298 |
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