Useful Laboratory Protocols for Screening Test for Chronic Low Back Pain Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To estimate association between laboratory findings such as serum lipid panel, urine pH, alkaline phosphatase, lactic acid and chronic low back pain patients. METHOD: A sample (n=112) of blue color employees in an engineering company were divided into three groups, degenerative herniated disc patients, degenerative spondylosis patients and radiculopathy patients. Each group was examined for the correlation between several factors and chronic low back pain. Several factors including laboratory findings with serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, urine PH, alkaline phosphatase, lactic acid and smoking were analysed. RESULTS: There was no association between the baseline total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, urine pH, lactic acid and chronic low back pain. However, the triglyceride levels were significantly higher in degenerative herniated disc patients, degenerative spondylosis patients and smokers. CONCLUSION: High serum triglyceride predicted incident degenerative chronic low back pain.