Effect of neural therapy on NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain. A pilot study
Introduction: Neurotrophins (NT) are a family of proteins consisting of the nerve growth factor (NGF), the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and NT-3 and NT-4/5. These proteins play an essential role in neuronal survival, differentiation, and proliferation. Objectives: To analyze the varia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad Nacional de Colombia
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Revista de la Facultad de Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/revfacmed/article/view/80142 |
| _version_ | 1797824733149921280 |
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| author | Carolina Garzón Jorge Eduardo Caminos Juan Pablo Alzate Javier Hernando Eslava-Schmalbach María Fernanda Garcés Eduardo Humberto Beltrán-Dussan |
| author_facet | Carolina Garzón Jorge Eduardo Caminos Juan Pablo Alzate Javier Hernando Eslava-Schmalbach María Fernanda Garcés Eduardo Humberto Beltrán-Dussan |
| author_sort | Carolina Garzón |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction: Neurotrophins (NT) are a family of proteins consisting of the nerve growth factor (NGF), the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and NT-3 and NT-4/5. These proteins play an essential role in neuronal survival, differentiation, and proliferation.
Objectives: To analyze the variations of NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain after undergoing neural therapy and to establish the effects of this type of intervention on their quality of life.
Materials and methods: Prospective pilot study conducted in 10 patients with chronic pain treated with neural therapy between July 2017 and April 2018 in Bogotá D.C., Colombia. Three consultations were performed (one in which the intervention was initiated, and two follow-up visits every three weeks). During each consultation, the patients’ quality of life was assessed using the SF-12 scale and their NGF and BDNF serum levels were measured. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, using medians and interquartile ranges for quantitative variables, and absolute frequencies and percentages for qualitative variables.
Results: The median score on the SF-12 scale tended to improve in the first and second follow-up visits compared with the baseline score (pre-intervention), particularly during the first follow-up visit (consultation No. 1: 34.5; follow-up No. 1: 39.5, and follow-up No. 2: 38). Median NGF serum levels had a downward trend after the intervention, particularly in the first follow-up visit (157.6, 42.95, and 237.8, respectively), and in the case of BNDF, an overall downward trend was also found (29.96, 19.24 and 20.43, respectively). An improvement in quality of life related to the decrease in the serum levels of both neurotrophins was observed.
Conclusion: Neural therapy intervention reduced NGF and BDNF serum levels and improved the quality of life of the participants. Therefore, the behavior of these neurotrophins could become a biomarker for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with chronic pain.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:43:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7ced4b084d840e1a23a909096bf03ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0120-0011 2357-3848 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:43:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Universidad Nacional de Colombia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista de la Facultad de Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7ced4b084d840e1a23a909096bf03ab2023-05-17T22:03:18ZengUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaRevista de la Facultad de Medicina0120-00112357-38482021-05-0169310.15446/revfacmed.v69n3.80142Effect of neural therapy on NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain. A pilot studyCarolina Garzón0Jorge Eduardo Caminos1Juan Pablo Alzate2Javier Hernando Eslava-Schmalbach3María Fernanda Garcés4Eduardo Humberto Beltrán-Dussan5Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Master’s Degree in Alternative Medicine - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia.Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiological Sciences - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia.Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Public Health - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia.Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Surgery - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia.Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiological Sciences - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia.Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá Campus - Faculty of Medicine - Specialty in Pediatric Oncohematology - Bogotá D.C. - Colombia. Introduction: Neurotrophins (NT) are a family of proteins consisting of the nerve growth factor (NGF), the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and NT-3 and NT-4/5. These proteins play an essential role in neuronal survival, differentiation, and proliferation. Objectives: To analyze the variations of NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain after undergoing neural therapy and to establish the effects of this type of intervention on their quality of life. Materials and methods: Prospective pilot study conducted in 10 patients with chronic pain treated with neural therapy between July 2017 and April 2018 in Bogotá D.C., Colombia. Three consultations were performed (one in which the intervention was initiated, and two follow-up visits every three weeks). During each consultation, the patients’ quality of life was assessed using the SF-12 scale and their NGF and BDNF serum levels were measured. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, using medians and interquartile ranges for quantitative variables, and absolute frequencies and percentages for qualitative variables. Results: The median score on the SF-12 scale tended to improve in the first and second follow-up visits compared with the baseline score (pre-intervention), particularly during the first follow-up visit (consultation No. 1: 34.5; follow-up No. 1: 39.5, and follow-up No. 2: 38). Median NGF serum levels had a downward trend after the intervention, particularly in the first follow-up visit (157.6, 42.95, and 237.8, respectively), and in the case of BNDF, an overall downward trend was also found (29.96, 19.24 and 20.43, respectively). An improvement in quality of life related to the decrease in the serum levels of both neurotrophins was observed. Conclusion: Neural therapy intervention reduced NGF and BDNF serum levels and improved the quality of life of the participants. Therefore, the behavior of these neurotrophins could become a biomarker for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with chronic pain. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/revfacmed/article/view/80142Nerve Growth FactorsQuality of lifePain ManagementLocal AnestheticsPain |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Garzón Jorge Eduardo Caminos Juan Pablo Alzate Javier Hernando Eslava-Schmalbach María Fernanda Garcés Eduardo Humberto Beltrán-Dussan Effect of neural therapy on NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain. A pilot study Revista de la Facultad de Medicina Nerve Growth Factors Quality of life Pain Management Local Anesthetics Pain |
| title | Effect of neural therapy on NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain. A pilot study |
| title_full | Effect of neural therapy on NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain. A pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Effect of neural therapy on NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain. A pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of neural therapy on NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain. A pilot study |
| title_short | Effect of neural therapy on NGF and BDNF serum levels in patients with chronic pain. A pilot study |
| title_sort | effect of neural therapy on ngf and bdnf serum levels in patients with chronic pain a pilot study |
| topic | Nerve Growth Factors Quality of life Pain Management Local Anesthetics Pain |
| url | https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/revfacmed/article/view/80142 |
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