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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to analyse blood plasma biochemical parameters in patients with pain of vascular origin. Blood samples
were taken from 62 patients (38–86years of age) with critical limb ischaemia, claudication or lower limb embolism, and from
a control group. The samples were taken at the time of hospital admission, 1h after surgery, 24h after surgery, and before
discharge. Pain intensity was assessed as mild, moderate or intense. The following biochemical parameters were measured: C
reactive protein, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, reduced glutathione,
malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidative capacity. In the control subjects, MDA increased postoperatively, whereas albumin,
total protein, HDL and total cholesterol decreased. In patients with claudication triglycerides and LDL cholesterol also decreased
postoperatively. In patients with critical limb ischaemia, reduced glutathione and antioxidative capacity decreased postoperatively
and MDA increased. Except in patients with embolism, MDA and C reactive protein increased following surgery. Patients with
critical limb ischaemia and embolism reported the worst preoperative pain. In patients with ischaemia, intense pain persisted
during the whole postoperative period while in patients with embolism pain continuously decreased. At different time intervals,
pain intensity was related to different biochemical markers. We suggest that the described blood plasma changes might play
an important role in pain assessment and pain management.
Clinical and Experimental Medicine 11/2008; 8(4):199-206. · 1.58 Impact Factor
