Elevated plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentration following a radius fracture.
Plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentration was assessed soon after a fracture. Blood samples from 14 patients with radius fractures were obtained from both arms soon after admission to the hospital (mean 245 min) after the accident. Follow-up samples were taken after healing of the fractures. Higher plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentrations were found in blood samples taken soon after a fracture in both arms compared with the concentrations after healing of the fracture. At admission, mean beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentrations in the fractured and the contralateral arms were 12.7 pmol/L and 13.2 pmol/L, and after recovery 11.1 pmol/L and 11.5 pmol/L (p = 0.012 and p = 0.041), respectively. The pain decreased according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-10) from 4.64 at admission to 0.58 after healing (p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study showed that beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentrations are increased in both arms following a radius fracture compared to the level after the fracture has healed.
Johansen
O
O
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital North Norway, NO-9038, Tromso, Norway. Oddmund.Johansen@unn.no
Winge
J
J
Reikeras
O
O
Jensen
T
T
Knutsen
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000097:blood*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000097:blood*
D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin