Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory mediators in chronic complex regional pain syndrome related dystonia

Objectives: There is compelling evidence of central nervous system involvement in neuropathic pain and movement disorders in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Previously, elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 were found in CRPS patients with and without movement disorders. The aim of the present study was to replicate these findings and to search for additional CSF biomarkers in chronic CRPS patients with dystonia. Methods: CSF samples of 20 patients and 29 controls who underwent spinal anesthesia for surgical interventions participated. We measured interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, interferon-gamma inducible protein-10, RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), complement C3, mannose-binding lectin, complement Clq, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 endothelin-1, nitric oxide, human lactoferrin, and hypocretin-1 levels in these samples. Results: No differences in the CSF levels of these effector mediators between patients and controls were found. Conclusion: Our CSF findings do not support a role of a variety of inflammatory mediators or hypocretin-1 in chronic CRPS patients with dystonia.