Elevated plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentration following a radius fracture

Abstract

Plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentration was assessed soon after a fracture. Blood samples from 14 patients with radius fractures were obtained from both arms soon after admission to the hospital (mean 245 min) after the accident. Follow-up samples were taken after healing of the fractures. Higher plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentrations were found in blood samples taken soon after a fracture in both arms compared with the concentrations after healing of the fracture. At admission, mean beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentrations in the fractured and the contralateral arms were 12.7 pmol/L and 13.2 pmol/L, and after recovery 11.1 pmol/L and 11.5 pmol/L (p = 0.012 and p = 0.041), respectively. The pain decreased according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-10) from 4.64 at admission to 0.58 after healing (p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study showed that beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin concentrations are increased in both arms following a radius fracture compared to the level after the fracture has healed.

β-Endorphin Regulation of MAPKs in Cultured Human Articular Chondrocytes: MAPK Inhibitors Prevent the Increase of IL-1β Protein Levels During β-Endorphin Stimulation

“…The amounts of β-END used in one of the groups (60 ng/ml ≈ 10 −11 M) are similar to those that could be found in normal physiological conditions. No more than 10 −11 M circulating β-END has been detected in patients with a radius fracture (15). In our opinion, the physiological concentration used in the study strengthens the relevance of the data obtained.…”