Mutations and structural variations in Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene of patients exhibiting chronic persistent surgical pain.

Objectives: Mutations in the exon 4 of the COMT gene are associated with chronic persistent surgical pain (CPSP). Especially COMT mutated allele G472A (Val158Met) associated with CPSP patients is reported in different ethnic population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of genetic mutations and structural variations in exon 4 of COMT that can be related to the appearance of CPSP in patients under sternotomy.