The COMT Val158Met Polymorphism is Significantly Associated with Early Onset Preeclampsia in Both African American and Caucasian Mothers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate maternal and infant Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphisms of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT), a reported indicator of preeclamptic risk, in a United States population. Healthy control, early-onset preeclamptic, and late-onset preeclamptic patients were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was isolated from mothers and infants via buccal swabs and DNA was genotyped via tetra-primer amplification PCR. Our findings indicate that the COMT genotype was not significantly associated with late-onset PE. While there were no significant differences between African American and Caucasian races, the maternal COMT^Met158Met genotype was significantly associated with early-onset preeclampsia in both African Americans and Caucasians when compared to COMT^Val158Val or COMT^Val158Met. These results suggest that the maternal COMT^Met158Met genotype may be a risk factor for early-onset PE.