The use of ACTH and beta-endorphin levels to measure the stress impact and safety of extracorporeal lithotripsy.
The authors measured the plasma levels of beta-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) related to pain in 11 urologic patients who underwent extracorporeal lithotripsy. The study included eight male and three female patients (aged 24 to 65 years) with single kidney stones of less than 20 mm who were treated with the Lithoring Multi-One device. The device delivered 2,000 shock waves from 18 kV to 25 kV, increasing by 1 kV every 250 shock waves. Three patients experienced pain, but only one required intravenous analgesia. The assay of plasmatic ACTH and beta-endorphin is proposed to control the safety and the stress impact of new devices and techniques. In addition, the study demonstrates the medicolegal relevance of such an assay in the evaluation of pain.
Department of Public Health and Biostatistics, University of Pisa, Italy.
M
M
Mariani
M
M
Ferdeghini
M
M
de Maria
P A
PA
Mancini
P
P
Gianotti
A
A
Campatelli
S
S
di Vito
R
R
Baldassarri
M
M
Oleggini
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone