CORRELATION BETWEEN NITRIC OXIDE .LEVELS IN THE C::EREBROSPINAL FLUID AND PAIN IN CANCER AND NON-CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

The present study aims at evaluating the CSF levels of NO, PGE2 and c-GMP in cancer pain, low backs pain and labor pain versus a control painless group. These biochemical indices were measured and correlated to the type, severity and duration of pain in all the patients who participated in the study. The study is a trial to clarify the role of spinal NO pathway in pain processing. The study aims to shed light upon the spinal mechanisms of pain processing in different types of acute and chronic pain.

After approval of the Local Ethical Committee 131 patients who signed an informed consent were included in the current study. The study enrolled four groups of patients. I. The control group (Group A): Included 20 patients who did not have pain and were scheduled to do surgery for inguinal hernia, hydrocele or varicocele. The CSF samples were obtained while performing spinal (intrathecal) anesthesia for these patients. II. The cancer pain group (Group 8): Included 49 patients with cancer prostate, cancer bladder, cancer vulva, cancer uterus, GIT cancers and bone malignancies in the lower limbs. All patients in this group experienced pain preoperatively. The CSF samples were obtained while performing spinal (intrathecal) anesthesia or analgesia for these patients. ill. The non-cancer pain group (low back pain) (Group C): Included 44 patients with chronic low back pain and CSF samples were obtained

while giving those patients epidural steroids or spinal (intrathecal)

anesthesia.