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. 2022 Aug 17:15:2393-2404.
doi: 10.2147/JPR.S365187. eCollection 2022.

Association of Biomarkers with Individual and Multiple Body Sites of Pain: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project

Katherine S Norman  1   2 , Adam P Goode  1   2   3 , Carolina Alvarez  4   5 , David Hu  4   5 , Steven Z George  2   3 , Todd A Schwartz  4   6 , Stephanie T Danyluk  2 , Rebecca Fillipo  7 , Virginia B Kraus  2   8   9 , Janet L Huebner  8 , Rebecca J Cleveland  4   5 , Joanne M Jordan  4   5   10   11 , Amanda E Nelson  4   5 , Yvonne M Golightly  4   11   12
Affiliations

Association of Biomarkers with Individual and Multiple Body Sites of Pain: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project

Katherine S Norman et al. J Pain Res. .

Abstract

Introduction: Biochemical biomarkers may provide insight into musculoskeletal pain reported at individual or multiple body sites. The purpose of this study was to determine if biomarkers or pressure-pain threshold (PPT) were associated with individual or multiple sites of pain.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 689 community-based participants. Self-reported symptoms (ie, pain, aching, or stiffness) were ascertained about the neck, upper back/thoracic, low back, shoulders, elbows, wrist, hands, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Measured analytes included CXCL-6, RANTES, HA, IL-6, BDNF, OPG and NPY. A standard dolorimeter measured PPT. Logistic regression was used determine the association between biomarkers and PPT with individual and summed sites of pain.

Results: Increased IL-6 and HA were associated with knee pain (OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.03, 1.64) and (OR=1.32, 95% CI 1.01, 1.73) respectively; HA was also associated with elbow/wrist/hand pain (OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.22, 2.09). Those with increased NPY levels were less likely to have shoulder pain (OR=0.56, 95% CI 0.33, 0.93). Biomarkers HA (OR=1.50, 95% CI 1.07, 2.10), OPG (OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.00, 3.03), CXCL-6 (OR=1.75, 95% CI 1.02, 3.01) and decreased PPT (OR=3.97, 95% CI 2.22, 7.12) were associated with multiple compared to no sites of pain. Biomarker HA (OR=1.57, 95% CI 1.06, 2.32) and decreased PPT (OR=3.53, 95% CI 1.81, 6.88) were associated with multiple compared to a single site of pain.

Conclusion: Biomarkers of inflammation (HA, OPG, IL-6 and CXCL-6), pain (NPY) and PPT may help to understand the etiology of single and multiple pain sites.

Keywords: epidemiology; musculoskeletal; pain; population health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr Adam P Goode reports grants from NIH, during the conduct of the study. Dr Steven Z George reports grants from NIH paid to his institution, during the conduct of the study; received honorarium and travel for Deputy Editor work from American Physical Therapy Association, royalties from Rehab Essentials for online education module, honorarium and travel for Scientific Advisory Board from Med Risk, outside the submitted work. All authors disclose they have no other financial or personal relationships with other people or organizations that could potentially and inappropriately bias their work and conclusions.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow Diagram of Study Participants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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