Cytokine expression in serum and cerebro-spinal fluid in non-inflammatory polyneuropathies

Pain is a common symptom in polyneuropathies (PNP), although it is still not known why some PNP are painful whereas others are painless. Increased pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in conditions resulting in exaggerated pain states in animal studies. Recently, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels have also been found in the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) of patients suffering from complex regional pain syndrome. Po-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to induce or increase inflammatory or neuropathic pain. Using chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assays, we investigated cytokine levels in 36 patients wi…