Influence of ibuprofen-arginine on serum levels of nitric oxide metabolites in patients with chronic low back pain--a single-blind, placebo controlled pilot trial (ISRCTN18723747).
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether ibuprofen-arginine has a cyclooxygenase-independent pain modulating property in addition to its known antiinflammatory effect.


METHODS
Patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into 2 groups treated either with oral ibuprofen-arginine (400 mg) or with placebo. Blood was drawn from study subjects before, during, and after treatment and they were asked each time about the intensity of their pain. Concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites were determined.


RESULTS
Twenty minutes after intake of ibuprofen-arginine, but not after placebo, there was a relevant and significant reduction of NO metabolites in serum. In both groups there was significant analgesic effect compared to baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
An early lowering of the serum NO metabolite levels after ibuprofen-arginine administration could be detected in patients with chronic low back pain.
Sprott
Haiko
H
Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology and Institute of Physical Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and the Center for Integrative Human Physiology (CIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. haiko.sprott@usz.ch
Gay
Renate E
RE
Michel
Beat A
BA
Gay
Steffen
S
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000700:Analgesics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D007052:Ibuprofen; C106674:ibuprofen arginine