Serum inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers levels are associated with pain intensity, pressure pain threshold and quality of life in myofascial pain syndrome

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the serum concentrations of some inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in relation with pain intensity and quality of life in patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) compared to healthy controls. This study is a case–control study. The participants were selected from MPS patients who referred to rehabilitation outpatient clinics of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. RESULTS: Serum hs-CRP (4.68 ± 4.36 vs. 2.92 ± 4.55 g/mlµ respectively, p = 0.011), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) (6.81 ± 2.22 vs. 4.73 ± 2.97 pg/ml respectively, p < 0.001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (2.63 ± 0.71 vs. 1.98 ± 0.90 nmol/ml respectively, p < 0.001) levels were significantly higher and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (2.46 ± 0.49 vs. 2.83 ± 0.82 mmol/L respectively, p = 0.011) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (78.89 ± 37.93 vs. 154.25 ± 115.93 U/ml respectively, p < 0.001) levels were significantly lower in the MPS patients compared to healthy controls. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level was significantly and positively associated with resting (r = 0.349, p = 0.019), activity (r = 0.295, p = 0.049) and night pain (r = 0.304, p = 0.043) intensities, pressure pain threshold (PPT) (r = 0.210, p = 0.047) and pain duration (r = 0.283, p = 0.007). Serum TAC level was significantly and negatively associated with resting pain intensity (r = −0.312, p = 0.037). Some scales and subscales of quality of life were positively correlated with serum TAC level and negatively associated with serum hs-CRP and PLA2 levels.