Objective: To detect the relationship between heroin dependence and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene.
Methods: Genotype and allele frequencies of 108 val/met and 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphisms of COMT gene were examined in 313 heroin-dependent subjects and 214 normal controls.
Results: No differences in genotype and allele frequencies of 108 val/met polymorphism of COMT gene were observed between heroin-dependent subjects and normal controls (genotype-wise: chi-square=1.67, P=0.43; allele-wise: chi-square=1.23, P=0.27). No differences in genotype and allele frequencies of 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphism of COMT gene were observed between heroin-dependent subjects and normal controls (genotype-wise: chi-square=3.73, P=0.16; allele-wise: chi-square=0.76, P=0.38).
Conclusion: The results suggested that neither 108 val/met polymorphism nor 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphism of COMT gene was associated with heroin dependence.