Genetic variants of DRD2, DRD4 and COMT genes in women with endometrioid ovarian cysts
Dubrovina S.O., Berlim Yu.D., Butenko E.V., Aleksandrina A.D., Vovkochina M.A., Bogunova D.Yu.
Objective. To study the polymorphic variants of the DRD2 (rs1800497), DRD4 (rs1800955), and COMT (rs4680) genes in women with endometrioid ovarian cysts (EOCs), and to consider the possible clinical significance of these genetic variants in the context of psychoemotional disorders described in patients with endometriosis.
Materials and methods. This comparative study included 220 women. Group I (n=108) comprised patients who underwent surgery for endometrioid ovarian cysts, while Group II (n=112) consisted of women without endometriosis (comparison group). Comparative analyses of clinical characteristics (age, body mass index, menstrual function, and reproductive history) and genotyping of three polymorphic loci were performed. Statistical analysis included Student’s t-test, Pearson’s χ² test, calculation of odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and assessment of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Results. The groups were comparable with respect to all clinical characteristics (p>0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed for DRD2 rs1800497 (p=0.15). The homozygous TT genotype of DRD4 rs1800955 was more frequent in Group I than in the comparison group (5.56% vs. 2.68%; OR=2.14; 95% CI, 0.52–8.77; p=0.01), and the T allele was more frequently detected among women with endometriosis (OR=2.08; 95% CI, 1.27–3.38; p=0.004). For the COMT rs4680 polymorphism, the AA (Met/Met) genotype occurred more frequently in Group I (27.77% vs. 16.07%; OR=2.01; 95% CI, 1.04–3.87; p=0.03), and the A allele was also more common among patients with EOCs (OR=1.77; 95% CI, 1.21–2.60; p=0.004).
Conclusion. Polymorphic variants of DRD4 rs1800955 (T allele, TT genotype) and COMT rs4680 (A allele, AA genotype) were more frequently identified in women with endometrioid ovarian cysts. The findings indicate an association between these genetic variants and the presence of endometrioid ovarian cysts. Given the established role of DRD4 and COMT in dopaminergic neurotransmission, these associations may be of interest for further investigation of biological mechanisms related to the psychoemotional characteristics commonly observed in women with endometriosis. From a clinical perspective, the findings may contribute to future research aimed at identifying factors that could be considered when selecting long-term therapeutic strategies for endometriosis, including the potential role of genetic factors in treatment adherence and tolerability.
Authors’ contributions. Dubrovina S.O. – research concept and design, article writing; Berlim Yu.D., Butenko E.V., Aleksandrina A.D., Vovkochina M.A., Bogunova D.Yu. – data collection and processing, article writing.
Conflicts of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Funding. The study was conducted without the any sponsorship; there are no sources of funding.
Ethical Approval. The research protocol was approved by the local ethics committee of the Research Institute for Obstetrics and Pediatrics of RostSMU, Ministry of Health of Russia (Protocol No. 50/5, dated November 18, 2014).
Generative Artificial Intelligence. When conducting the English version of the abstract, ChatGPT (OpenAI) was used for translation, language editing, and text structuring. The resulting content was reviewed, edited, and approved by the authors. The authors are fully responsible for the accuracy and content of the publication.
Patient Сonsent for Publication. All participants signed a voluntary informed consent form to participate in the study with their anonymized data published.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement. The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon request from the responsible author after approval by the principal investigator.
For citation: Dubrovina S.O., Berlim Yu.D., Butenko E.V., Aleksandrina A.D., Vovkochina M.A., Bogunova D.Yu. Genetic variants of DRD2, DRD4 and COMT genes in women with endometrioid ovarian cysts.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (8): 175-182 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.242
Keywords
endometrioid ovarian cysts
endometriosis
polymorphism
DRD2
DRD4
COMT
depression
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Received 07.08.2026
Accepted 26.08.2026
About the Authors
Svetlana O. Dubrovina, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Chief Researcher, Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rostov State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia; Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 1, Rostov State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 344012, Russia, Rostov-on-Don,Mechnikov str., 43; Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 2, Bashkir State Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, +7(863)250-42-00, s.dubrovina@gmail.com
Yulia D. Berlim, PhD, Deputy Chief Physician for Medical Affairs, Rostov-on-Don City Hospital No. 6, 344025, Russia, Rostov-on-Don, Saryan str., 85; Associate Professor
at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 2, Bashkir State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, +7(918)500-23-56, juliaberlim@yandex.ru
Elena V. Butenko, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, Academy of Biology and Medicine, Southern Federal University,
344006, Russia, Rostov-on-Don, B. Sadovaya str., 105/42, +7(909)420-22-23, evbutenko@sfedu.ru
Anna D. Aleksandrina, obstetrician-gynecologist, Rostov-on-Don City Emergency Hospital, 344068, Russia, Rostov-on-Don, Bodraya str., 88/35, +7(904)448-58-42, anna221215@inbox.ru
Marina A. Vovkochina, Head of the Antenatal Clinic, Rostov-on-Don City Hospital No. 6, 344012, Russia, Rostov-on-Don, Saryan str., 85, +7(918)559-00-30,
jordan-85@inbox.ru
Diana Yu. Bogunova, obstetrician-gynecologist, Rostov-on-Don City Clinical Hospital No. 20, 344091, Russia, Rostov-on-Don, Kommunistichesky Ave., 39, +7(961)524-77-23, bogunovadi@yandex.ru
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