Original Article

Assesment of pulsed radiofrequency’s effect on level of tnf-α as a proinflammatory cytokin

10.5455/gulhane.177256

  • Şükrü Tekindur
  • Süleyman Deniz
  • Memduh Yetim
  • Tarık Purtuloglu
  • Abdulkadir Atım
  • Ömer Yanarateş
  • Ercan Kurt

Received Date: 15.01.2015 Accepted Date: 06.02.2015 Gulhane Med J 2016;58(1):78-81

Pulsed Radiofrequency is a efficient method in chronic pain syndrome therapies. Working mechanism of pulsed radiofrequency is unknown and is currently being investigated

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We studied thirty 20-75 year-old patients with chronic pain syndrome and scheduled for pulsed radiofrequency in a prospective clinical trial. Tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) levels, visual analogue scale scores and categorical pain scale scores before pulsed radiofrequency therapy were compared with results of third weeks after pulsed radiofrequency therapy in all cases.

Mean level of TNF-α before a procedure is 5.230±3.858 and means level of TNF-α three weeks after procedure is 12.763±3.322. We found a statistically significant increase between TNF-α levels (p<0.05).

Increase in second control of TNF-α levels may demonstrate that we aggravated inflammatory process. We also devise to develop this study by increasing number of patient and/or measuring other anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Keywords: Pulsed Radiofrequency, TNF-α, Chronic Pain