Author ORCID Identifier

Anitha Saravanan: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4585-5577

Elizabeth Sterner: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3548-7448

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Biological Research For Nursing

Abstract

Purpose

Proinflammatory cytokines play a critical role in chronic inflammation and pain and contribute to behavioral symptoms (depressive symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance) and comorbidities (diabetes, cardiac diseases, cancer). Evidence is lacking on the specific proinflammatory cytokines associated with these behavioral symptoms/comorbidities co-occurring with axial low back pain (aLBP). This review aimed to systematically analyze the following: (1) specific proinflammatory cytokines associated with aLBP in adults, (2) associations among proinflammatory cytokines and behavioral symptoms in aLBP, and (3) relationships among proinflammatory cytokines and comorbidities in aLBP, to develop a new clinical framework for future diagnostic and intervention targets for patients with aLBP.

Methods

Electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source, and CINAHL Complete (EBSCO) were searched for the period January 2012 to February 2023. Eligible studies included cross-sectional, case-control, longitudinal, and cohort studies in which proinflammatory cytokines were reported in adults above 18 years with aLBP. Intervention studies and randomized controlled trails were excluded. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) criteria were used for quality evaluation.

Results

Findings from 11 studies showed 3 proinflammatory cytokines associated with pain intensity in adult patients with aLBP: C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α), and Interleukin (IL-6). Some studies assessed associations between proinflammatory cytokines and depressive symptoms; none explored the association of proinflammatory cytokines with fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbance, or comorbidities (diabetes, cardiac diseases, and cancer) in aLBP.

Conclusions

Proinflammatory cytokines in aLBP can serve as composite biomarkers for pain, associated symptoms, and comorbidities and may serve as a target for future interventions. There is need for well-designed studies assessing associations among chronic inflammation, behavioral symptoms, and comorbidities.

DOI

10.1177/10998004231171146

Publication Date

10-25-2023

Comments

This is an Accepted Manuscript of the following article published by Sage: Saravanan A, Bai J, Bajaj P, Sterner E, Rajagopal M, Sanders S, Luckose A, Kushnick M, Starkweather A. Composite Biomarkers, Behavioral Symptoms, and Comorbidities in Axial Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Biol Res Nurs. 2023 Oct;25(4):571-585. doi: 10.1177/10998004231171146.

The version of record of this article can be found at: available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004231171146.

© 2023. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0

Original Citation

Saravanan A, Bai J, Bajaj P, Sterner E, Rajagopal M, Sanders S, Luckose A, Kushnick M, Starkweather A. Composite Biomarkers, Behavioral Symptoms, and Comorbidities in Axial Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Biol Res Nurs. 2023 Oct;25(4):571-585. doi: 10.1177/10998004231171146

Department

School of Nursing| University Libraries

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