Researchers have discovered a new, personalized approach for the diagnosis of low back pain based on patients’ biochemical profiles.

 

A clinical study conducted by researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in collaboration with Norwell Health analyzed cytokines, specifically interleukin-6 (IL-6), to learn their influence on the behavior and pain levels of patients with lower back pain. Researchers also looked at the effect of BMI, symptom duration and patient age on serum levels.

 

They found the serum levels of IL-6 vary in patients with lumbar intervertebral disc disease and concluded biochemical profiling in circulating cytokines could assist in refining personalized diagnoses of disc diseases. The findings are published in Arthritis and Research Therapy.

 

“We are very excited by the results of this clinical study and will continue to study cytokine levels in the future,” Nadeen Chahine, PhD, lead author of the study and associate investigator at the Feinstein Institute, said in a press release. “Exploring the biochemical profile of those who suffer from low back pain will help the 40[%] to 80% of sufferers throughout the [United States] U.S.”

 

Chahine and colleagues recruited 133 participants from Northwell Health who had low back pain as well as a control group. They found serum levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in subjects with low back pain compared with control participants. Participants with low back pain due to spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease also had higher levels of serum than participants with intervertebral disc herniation and controls.

 

The results suggest that patients with low back pain have low-grade systemic inflammation. In addition, according to the press release, the results suggest biochemical profiling of circulating cytokines could assist in the diagnosis of low back pain, which could allow for a correct diagnosis in less time.