Association between serum levels of high sensitivity c-reactive protein, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 with pain intensity in patients with low back pain without sciatica

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A strictly mechanical and pathoanatomical explanation for low back pain (LBP) and sciatica has proved inadequate; therefore, the role of biochemical and inflammatory factors remains under investigation. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there is any association between serum levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6 with pain intensity in a patient with LBP without sciatica. METHODS: Venous blood serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-1, and IL-6 were measured on 50 patients with LBP who had a negative Lasègue test on physical examination. The pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: There were 50 patients with LBP without sciatica with mean of age of46.72 ± 10.79-year-old participated in this study comprised 8 (16%) men and 42 (84%) women. The mean serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-1, and IL-6 were 0.50 ± 0.61 mg/dL, 55.02 ± 49.73 ng/L, and IL-6 39.43 ± 38.56 ng/L, respectively. The mean of VAS score was 49.3±9.6 mm. There was no significant correlation (r = 0.05; p = 0.72) between hs-CRP serum levels and VAS scores. There was found a weak negative non-significant correlation (r = −0.10, p = 0.47) between IL-1 serum levels and VAS score. There was found a weak negative non-significant correlation (r = −0.17, p = 0.23) between IL-6 serum levels and VAS score as well. CONCLUSION: There was no significant correlation between serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-1, and IL-6 with VAS scores in patient with LBP without sciatica.