Peritraumatic C-reactive Protein Levels Predict Pain Outcomes Following Traumatic Stress Exposure in a sex-Dependent manner.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-7-2024

Publication Title

medRxiv

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain following traumatic stress exposure (TSE) is common. Increasing evidence suggests inflammatory/immune mechanisms are induced by TSE, play a key role in the recovery process versus development of post-TSE chronic pain, and are sex specific. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with chronic pain after TSE in a sex-specific manner.

METHODS: We utilized blood-plasma samples and pain questionnaire data from men (n=99) and (n=223) women enrolled in

RESULTS: Peritraumatic CRP levels significantly predicted post-TSE chronic pain, such that higher levels of CRP were associated with lower levels of pain over time following TSE, but only in men (men:β=-0.24,

CONCLUSIONS: In men but not women, we found circulating peritraumatic CRP levels predict chronic pain outcomes following TSE and resolution of CRP levels in men over time might be associated with increased pain recovery. Further studies are needed to validate these results.

First Page

2024.12.03.24318221

Last Page

2024.12.03.24318221

DOI

10.1101/2024.12.03.24318221

PubMed ID

39677432

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