title: Neuropeptide-converting enzymes in cerebrospinal fluid: activities increased in pain from herniated lumbar dis, but not from coxarthrosis.
abstract: We measured activities of dynorphin-converting enzyme (DCE), substance P endopeptidase (SPE) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 13 patients with rhizopathic pain from an herniated lumbar disc, in 9 patients with pain from coxarthrosis and in 11 control patients without pain. In the patients with disc hernia and coxarthrosis, another sample of CSF was analyzed 3-12 months after treatment, when pain had subsided. The DCE activity in the patients was higher than that in both the control patients and the patients with pain from coxarthrosis (nociceptive pain). Similarly, the activity of SPE was lower in the patients with herniated lumbar disc than in controls and in the patients with coxarthrosis. After treatment, the difference in activity compared to controls was lower, but still significant in patients with herniated discs. The ACE activity did not differ from controls in patients with ischialgia, while it was increased in patients with coxarthrosis. This increase also remained after arthroplasty with pain relief. In conclusion, measurements of neuropeptides may be useful for evaluating neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thornwall
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gordh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ordeberg
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nyberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D010450:Endopeptidases; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C063078:dynorphin converting enzyme