Abstract
Musculoskeletal pain (MSP), specifically low back pain (LBP), is often associated with several adipose tissue-derived cytokines (adipokines) and body composition, but their correlations with the LBP-related disability/severity phenotypes remain poorly understood. In this cross-sectional study, two self-reported validated questionnaires were used to collect back pain and disability data in an ethnically homogeneous family-based population sample (N = 1078). Plasma levels of relatively new adipokines, vaspin and adipsin, were detected by ELISA. Body composition parameters, including fat, skeletal muscle mass, extracellular water (ECW), and others were assessed through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology. Statistical analysis was conducted, accounting for the familial composition of the sample. The multiple regression analyses with four LBP-related phenotypes as dependent variables consistently showed, for the first time, the significant associations with vaspin levels, regardless of other covariates. The odds ratios (OR)/SD ranged between 1.24 (95%CI = 1.03–1.50) and 1.33 (95%CI = 1.07–1.64), depending on the LBP phenotype. Among the tested body composition covariates, only ECW levels displayed consistent and highly significant associations with all tested LBP phenotypes (OR from 1.43, 95%CI = 1.14–1.79 to 1.68, 95%CI = 1.26–2.24). The results clearly suggest that circulating concentrations of vaspin and ECW levels could serve as biomarkers of MSP/LBP severity and complications.
Highlights
Pain is commonly defined as an unpleasant sensation or physical suffering caused by trauma or illness
We have recently reported a significant association between the circulating levels of growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and low back pain (LBP) disability in a large community-based sample [6]
ECW, extracellular water; NS, non-significant. This cross-sectional study in symptomatic chronic LBP patients provides interesting insight into the potential roles played by plasma vaspin levels and ECW in LBP complication manifestations and progression
Summary
Pain is commonly defined as an unpleasant sensation or physical suffering caused by trauma or illness. It is often accompanied by anatomical and/or physiological alterations, which, frequently remain uncertain [1]. One of the most common pain symptoms experienced by people of all ages is musculoskeletal pain (MSP), in particular low back pain (LBP). LBP is the number one cause of disability globally affecting >500 million people at any given time [2]. The mechanisms determining the transition from acute to chronic stage, intensity of the disease, and the response to specific therapies are still indeterminate. Most importantly, there have been no validated biomarkers found that could enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of LBP pathophysiology. Previous studies have reported a close association of LBP with sarcopenia of the paraspinal muscles [3,4,5], suggesting that skeletal muscle-associated molecules might serve as Diagnostics 2020, 10, 797; doi:10.3390/diagnostics10100797 www.mdpi.com/journal/diagnostics
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