C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 receptor in post-traumatic stress disorder: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
it has been reported that psychological stress in humans is associated with a derangement of biological homeostasis. This pilot study aimed to examine the inflammatory response to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through measurements of the serum levels of the receptor to interleukin 6 (sIL-6r) and C-reactive protein (CRP), in relation to measures of psychological disturbance.


METHODS
15 patients with established PTSD and eight control patients with musculoskeletal injuries were studied at least three months after their index trauma. All completed revised impact of events scale (RIES), Davidson's trauma scale (DTS) and the general health questionnaire (GHQ), and gave blood samples that were assayed for CRP and sIL-6r. Statistical analysis was by the Mann-Whitney U-Wilcoxon rank sum tests.


RESULTS
positive relationships were found between sIL-6r and the RIES intrusion score (P=0.026), and between CRP and DTS intrusion scores (P=0.016), GHQ depression (P=0.028), and RIES intrusion (P=0.044) in the case group.


CONCLUSIONS
we have demonstrated a relationship between post-traumatic psychological and biological disturbance, which provides the basis for further research on the effects of psychological disturbance on physical recovery after injury.
Department of Orthopaedics, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB9 2ZD, UK.
R J
RJ
Miller
A G
AG
Sutherland
J D
JD
Hutchison
D A
DA
Alexander
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein