Catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) genotype val-158-met has been previously shown to influence the opioid receptor-mediated modulation of pain in humans. The aim of the present study was to find out whether COMT val-158-met polymorphism predicts the response to cold pressor pain. The COMT val-158-met genotype was determined in 12 healthy males. According to genotype, the subjects had either high (val/val: 3 subjects), intermediate (val/met: 5 subjects) or low ( met/met: 4 subjects) COMT activity. Pain sensitivity was assessed with the cold pressor test. Cold pressure pain threshold was defined as the latency from the immersion of the hand into ice water to the first sensation of pain. Cold pressure pain tolerance was defined as the latency from the immersion of the hand to the feeling of intolerable pain. The COMT val-158-met genotype was not correlated with the cold pressor pain threshold (p=0.62; Spearman rank correlation test) or the cold pressor pain tolerance (p=0.60). This finding indicates that the COMT genotype does not influence the baseline sensitivity to cold pressor pain in healthy subjects.