• Bárbara Zille Queiroz, Daniele Sirineu Pereira, Rosa Nayza Maciel de Britto NMB, Renata Antunes Lopes, André Gustavo Pereira Andrade, Diogo Carvalho Felício, Renata Muniz Freire Vinhal Siqueira Jardim, Leopoldino Amanda Aparecida Oliveira AAO, Juscélio Pereira Silva, and Pereira Leani Souza Máximo LSM.
• From the Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (BZQ, NMBR, RAL, AGPA, RMFVSJ, AAOL, JPS, LSMP); Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas (DSP); and Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora (DCF), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
• Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2017 Aug 1; 96 (8): 535-540.

ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to determine the course of plasma levels of inflammatory mediators (interleukin 6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], soluble TNF receptor 1 [sTNF-R1]) and the severity of low-back pain (LBP) over 6 to 12 months after an acute episode of LBP in elderly women and to establish an association between inflammatory mediators and LBP recovery.DesignThis was a longitudinal study of a subsample (155 elderly women with acute LBP, aged ≥65 years) of the international Back Complaints in the Elders cohort study. Plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and sTNF-R1 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and pain severity using the numerical pain scale.ResultsThere was a decrease in the severity of LBP (P = 0.033) and in the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.001) and an increase in sTNF-R1 (P < 0.001) in the first year after an acute episode of LBP. The probability of occurrence of pain relief at the 12-month follow-up was 2.22 times higher in elderly women who had low levels of IL-6 (<1.58 pg/mL) at baseline.ConclusionsOur findings showed a relationship between inflammation and LBP by establishing that low IL-6 plasma levels preceded outcome (LBP recovery), supporting the concept that proinflammatory cytokines promote pain.

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