Elsevier, Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 2(16), p. 112-114
DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2009.08.011
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A functional variant in the Histamine N-Methyltransferase gene (HNMT – rs11558538) resulting in a threonine to isoleucine substitution (Thr105Ile), has been shown to impair histamine degradation. Two recent studies reported that the threonine allele of this polymorphism might be a risk factor for Parkinson disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) development. Although PD and ET are considered different entities, they share some clinical and pathological features, suggesting a possible joint etiology. In this study we assess the role of the Thr105Ile variant in PD and ET development, genotyping the variant in a North American Caucasian PD and ET case-control series. Statistical analysis did not identify any significant association between this variant and PD or ET; therefore, our findings do not support the HNMT Thr105Ile variant as a factor in disease development or a genetic link between the disorders.