Genetics and genomics in postoperative pain and analgesia

Purpose of reviewThe review describes recent advances in genetics and genomics of postoperative pain, the association between genetic variants and the efficacy of analgesics, and the role of pharmacogenomics in the selection of appropriate analgesic treatments for postoperative pain.Recent findingsRecent genetic studies have reported associations of genetic variants in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 11 (SCN11A) and -opioid receptor (OPRM1) genes with postoperative pain. The recent pharmacogenetics studies revealed an association of the organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) and ATP-binding cassette C3 (ABCC3) polymorphisms with morphine-related adverse effects, an effect of polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 gene CYP2D6 on the analgesic efficacy of tramadol and no effect of CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 variants on efficacy of piroxicam.SummaryGenetic variants associate with inter-individual variability in drug responses and they can affect pain sensitivity and intensity of postoperative pain. Despite the recent progress in genetics and genomics of postoperative pain, it is still not possible to precisely predict the patients who are genetically predisposed to have severe postoperative pain or who develop chronic postoperative pain.