Fibrinolytic Activity in the Chronic Low-back Pain Syndrome

Abstract

Recently, decreased fibrinolytic activity (FA) in plasma of heterogenous groups of patients with chronic low-back pain (CLBP) has been demonstrated^1,2). A decreased FA may lead to impaired removal of fibrin, deposited secondary to lesions and tissue damage of the lumbar spine. Fibrin is able to induce an inflammatory reaction⁽³⁾, thus leading to pain and possibly fibrosis. This could explain why some individuals develop arachnoiditis, post-laminectomy syndrome or symptoms due to spondylosis and disc degeneration, while others do not.

In this study we have investigated whether decreased FA could be demonstrated in a prospectively and consecutively collected population of patients with CLBP.