ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) genes among Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genotypes of the COMT and MAO-B genes of 1408 patients with Parkinson's disease was sequenced using Sanger method. And these patients were recruited by Chinese Parkinson Study Group from 29 research centers throughout the country.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotypic frequencies of COMT rs4680 AA, AG, GG were 8.9%, 42.0% and 49.1%. Those of rs4818 CC, CG, GG were 42.5%, 45.6% and 11.9%, respectively. The genotype frequencies of MAO-B rs1799836 A/AA, AG, G/GG were 74.4%, 14.1% and 11.5%, respectively. The haplotype formed by COMT rs4680 (GG) and MAO-B rs1799836 (A/AA) genotype has a frequency of 36.86%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Polymorphisms of COMT and MAO-B genes has a unique characteristics among Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease. They may be related with differences in drug response in such patients.</p>