title: Serum levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukins 6 (IL-6) and -8 (IL-8) in patients with lumbar radicular pain due to disc herniation: A 12-month prospective study.
abstract: Earlier studies indicate that lumbar radicular pain after disc herniation may be associated with a local inflammation induced by leakage of nucleus pulposus (NP) into the spinal canal and neuroforamen. In the present study we addressed the role of two interleukins, IL-6 and IL-8 in such long-lasting lumbar radicular pain. All 127 patients were recruited from Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Norway. At inclusion, 6weeks and 12months, serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and pain intensity was reported on a 0-10cm visual analog scale (VAS). Significantly higher levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in serum were found in patients with VAS ⩾3 at 12months, than in patient with VAS <3 at 12months (p⩽0.01, test of between-subjects effect, repeated measures ANOVA, covariates for IL-6: age, smoking; covariates for IL-8: smoking, treatment). For the first time we show that chronic lumbar radicular pain may be associated with a persistent increase of the pro-inflammatory substances IL-6 and IL-8 in serum after disc herniation.
authors: Communication and Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Disorders (FORMI), Oslo University Hospital, Norway. Electronic address: limped@ous-hf.no.
authors: Linda Margareth
authors: LM
authors: Pedersen
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. Electronic address: uxioel@ous-hf.no.
authors: Elina
authors: E
authors: Schistad
authors: Communication and Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Disorders (FORMI), Oslo University Hospital, Norway. Electronic address: linemelaa@gmail.com.
authors: Line Melå
authors: LM
authors: Jacobsen
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Faculty of medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Ceroee@ous-hf.no.
authors: Cecile
authors: C
authors: Røe
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Bioscience, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: johannes.gjerstad@stami.no.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Gjerstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8
keywords: Cytokines; Disc herniation; ELISA; IL-6; IL-8; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Lumbar radicular pain; Nucleus pulposus; Radiculopathy; Sciatica; Serum