Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Oral Medicine and Periodontology)

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Assessment of pain perception linked to COMT-gene activity in diagnostic groups with temporomandibular joint disorders in a South African population
(Universty of the Western Cape, 2023) Meyer, Mark Keith; Chetty, Manogari
Pain affects a large segment of the population suffering from Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). This persistent TMD pain may lead to physical, psychological, behavioral, and psychosocial symptoms. The chronicity of pain may be affected by genetic factors, and in the last decade much research was done investigating the impact of genetic factors and its relationship to pain perception. Several genes have been identified as potentially modulating TMD. The genes that have been identified to support the development of TMD include those related to the sensation of pain. Specific target genes associated to the catecholaminergic system, like the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) gene, are linked to regulating the nociceptive process. The main objective of this study was to correlate pain perception in patients with TMD and the association with various COMT gene SNPs in a South African population. This study also assessed how various COMT gene SNPs impacts the psychosocial behaviour of patients suffering from TMD.