Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene polymorphisms associate with crisis pain in sickle cell disease patients.

Aim: Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) catalyzes the conversion of sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine to epinephrine. We examined the association of PNMT polymorphisms with acute and chronic pain in sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: Utilization of emergency care owing to painful crisis was used as a marker for acute pain in 131 patients with SCD. Results: rs876493 A allele, rs2934965 T allele and rs2941523 G allele were significantly associated with decreased utilization (p