Relationship of cytokine levels with neuropsychological parameters in patients with vibration disease

Abstract

Introduction. The results were obtained using the method of solid-phase enzyme immunoassay and neuropsychological examination of patients with vibration disease caused by the combined effect of local and general vibration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the content of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines and changes in neuropsychological parameters in patients with vibration disease associated with combined exposure to local and general vibration. Materials and methods. Examined men were divided into groups: first group (n=28) - with vibration disease of the second degree, due to the combined effect of local and general vibration and the second (n=16) - the comparison group. There are methods of statistical analysis with the determination of the Shapiro-Wilk W-test, the Mann-Whitney U-test, and the Spearman correlation analysis. Results. In patients with vibration disease when compared to second group was higher values characterizing the analytic-synthetic (p=0.002) and conceptual thinking (p=0.016), short (verbal) (p=0.002), hand-shaped (p=0.002) and long (p=0.041) memory, dynamic (p=0.001) and constructive (p=0.001) praxis, visual gnosis (p=0,042), impressive speech (p=0.041), as well as index test, MMSE (p=0.003). Dysregulation in the immune system manifests in the form of a statistically significant hyperproduction of IL-8 and IFN-γ diagnosed in first group patients when compared with group II at p<0.05. There were statistically significant direct correlations between the concentration of IL-4 and the indicator of conceptual thinking, an indicator that characterizes finger gnosis (p=0.021; 0.025, respectively). Statistically significant dependences indicate that the increase in tests on the arithmetic triple score, the selection of opposites in the active plan, showing the specified finger on the sample and the name, an explanation of the logical-grammatical constructions, indicating a decrease in the function of analytical and synthetic thinking, conceptual thinking, finger gnosis, impressive speech, this is due to an increase in production of IL-8, IFN-γ (p=0,013; 0,044; 0,025; 0,008; 0,048; 0,046; 0,028; 0,018 respectively). Conclusions. The decrease in indicators that characterize analytical-synthetic, conceptual thinking, short-term (auditory-speech), long-term, operational visual memory, dynamic and constructive praxis, visual gnosis, and impressive speech is accompanied by hyperproduction of IL-8, IFN-γ. This fact may characterize the activation of the neuroinflammatory process as an important determinant of cognitive decline under the combined influence of local and general vibration. The established relationship between increased levels of IL-4 and indicators of conceptual thinking, visual gnosis, probably indicates the importance of more pronounced cytotoxic reactions in the violation of the mechanisms of visual perception and thought process in patients with vibration disease.