Effects of mud-pack treatment on plasma cytokine and soluble adhesion molecule levels in healthy volunteers.
BACKGROUND
The suggested hypothesis of a direct anti-inflammatory property of mud-pack treatment has led us to speculate that its action on the cytokine network might counteract the heat-stress-related effects on platelet and endothelial cell function often reported following hot-spring baths. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of a cycle of 12 daily mud-pack treatments on bio-humoral markers of inflammation, as well as on markers of in vivo platelet and/or endothelial cell activation, in plasma samples obtained from healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Blood samples were obtained before (T(0)), at the end of the first treatment (T(1)) and after a cycle of 12 daily mud-pack treatments (T(2)). Plasma cytokines (TNF-alpha IL-1beta, and IL-6) and adhesion molecules (sP-selectin, sE-selectin and sVCAM) levels, as well as hematocrit and complete and differential blood cell counts were determined at every time point.


RESULTS
Plasma sP-selectin levels were not modified during treatment, as were not sE-selectin or sVCAM. Similarly, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels were unchanged through a 12 daily mud-pack treatment. Conversely, plasma IL-6 levels were significantly lowered at the end of a 20-min 47 degrees C mud-pack treatment (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of effects on in vivo platelet and/or endothelial cell activation suggests that hot mud-pack treatment might be used as a relatively safe procedure in patients with atherothrombotic disorders.
Basili
S
S
Department of Medical Therapy, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale Del Policlinico, 155 00161 Rome, Italy. stefania.basili@uniroma1.it
Martini
F
F
Ferroni
P
P
Grassi
M
M
Sili Scavalli
A
A
Streva
P
P
Cusumano
G
G
Musca
A
A
Battista Rini
G
G
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009094:Mud Therapy; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D010976:Platelet Count; D012016:Reference Values; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D019040:E-Selectin; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019007:P-Selectin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha