Association between baseline IL-6 and 1-year recovery in lumbar radicular pain

• Published in: European journal of pain 2014-11, Vol.18 (10), p.1394-1401
• Main Authors: Schistad, E.I., Espeland, A., Pedersen, L.M., Sandvik, L., Gjerstad, J., Røe, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cohort Studies; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Interleukin-6 - immunology; Interleukin-8 - immunology; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - pathology; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - immunology; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - pathology; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - therapy; Linear Models; Low Back Pain - immunology; Low Back Pain - pathology; Low Back Pain - therapy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedic Procedures; Physical Therapy Modalities; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Radiculopathy - immunology; Radiculopathy - pathology; Radiculopathy - therapy; Time-to-Treatment; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1090-3801; 1532-2149
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2014.502.x

Background In the present study, the influence of cytokines on 1‐year recovery in lumbar radicular pain was examined. Methods In total, 110 patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation were followed for 1 year. Uni‐ and multivariate linear regression was used to assess the influence of interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, disc degeneration and endplate changes (Modic changes) on the changes in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI change; primary outcome) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back pain (LBP) and leg pain (secondary outcomes). Results Less favourable ODI outcome correlated with higher serum IL‐6 levels (B = −3.41, 95% CI −5.52 to −1.30, p = 0.002), non‐surgical treatment (B = −7.03, 95% CI 1.21 to 12.84, p = 0.018), higher baseline back pain intensity (B = −2.28, 95% CI −3.21 to −1.35, p