The COMT-Polymorphism is not Associated with the Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives: The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) represents the key enzyme in catecholamine degradation. Recent studies suggest that the three phenotypes Val108/158Met polymorphism on COMT results in a wide variation in the response to endogenous and exogenous catecholamines. There are conflicting data if particularly the COMT-Met/Met phenotype is associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery. The aim of the current study is to investigate the prevalence of the phenotypes of COMT activity and their impact on the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: In this prospective single center cohort study consecutive patients hospitalized for an elective cardiac surgical procedure including CPB were screened for inclusion/exclusion criteria. After giving written informed consent routine demographic clinical data, blood, urine and tissue samples were collected at defined time points. AKI was defined according to the recommendations of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO). The genetic analysis was done after patient enrolment was completed.

Results: Between April and December 2014, a total of 150 patients were included. There were no significant differences in demography, comorbidities nor operative or postoperative events between the three COMT genotypes. AKI occurred in 35 (23.5%) of the 150 enrolled patients (20.5% in the Met/Met, 24.7% in the Val/Met and 25.0% in the Val/Val group; p = 0.66). Furthermore, there were no differences between the three phenotypes regarding ICU or in-hospital stay.

Conclusion: We did not find statistical significant variations in the risk for postoperative AKI, length of ICU or in-hospital stay according to COMT genotype.

 

MissingLinkText

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).