SpringerLink
Log in

C-Reactive Protein and Pain Sensitivity: Findings from Female Twins

  • Rapid Communication
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Systemic inflammation and pain sensitivity may contribute to the development and maintenance of chronic pain conditions.

Purpose

We examined the relationship between systemic inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) and cold pain sensitivity in 198 female twins from the University of Washington Twin Registry. We also explored the potential role of familial factors in this relationship.

Methods

Linear regression modeling with generalized estimating equations examined the overall and within-pair associations.

Results

Higher levels of CRP were associated with higher pain sensitivity ratings at pain threshold (p = 0.02) and tolerance (p = 0.03) after adjusting for age, body mass index, time to reach pain threshold or tolerance, and clinical pain status. The magnitude of the associations remained the same in within-pair analyses controlling for familial factors.

Conclusions

The link between CRP and pain sensitivity may be due to non-shared environmental factors. CRP and pain sensitivity can be examined as potential biomarkers for chronic pain and other inflammatory conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  1. Gatchel RJ. Comorbidity of chronic pain and mental health disorders: The biopsychosocial perspective. Am Psychol. 2004; 59: 795–805.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Libby P, Ridker PM, Maseri A. Inflammation and atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2002; 105: 1135–1143.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lund Haheim L, Nafstad P, Olsen I, Schwarze P, Ronningen KS. C-reactive protein variations for different chronic somatic disorders. Scand J Public Health. 2009; 37: 640–646

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kushner I, Rzewnicki D, Samols D. What does minor elevation of C-reactive protein signify? Am J Med. 2006; 119: 166 e117-128

    Google Scholar 

  5. Petzke F, Clauw DJ, Ambrose K, Khine A, Gracely RH. Increased pain sensitivity in fibromyalgia: Effects of stimulus type and mode of presentation. Pain. 2003; 105: 403–413.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Giesecke T, Gracely RH, Grant MA, et al. Evidence of augmented central pain processing in idiopathic chronic low back pain. Arthritis Rheum. 2004; 50: 613–623.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kasch H, Qerama E, Bach FW, Jensen TS. Reduced cold pressor pain tolerance in non-recovered whiplash patients: A 1-year prospective study. Eur J Pain. 2005; 9: 561–569.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Slade GD, Diatchenko L, Bhalang K, et al. Influence of psychological factors on risk of temporomandibular disorders. J Dent Res. 2007; 86: 1120–1125.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Afari N, Noonan C, Goldberg J, et al. University of Washington Twin Registry: Construction and characteristics of a community-based twin registry. Twin Res Hum Genet. 2006; 9: 1023–1029.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. White KP, Harth M, Speechley M, Ostbye T. Testing an instrument to screen for fibromyalgia syndrome in general population studies: The London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study Screening Questionnaire. J Rheumatol. 1999; 26: 880–884.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Pearson TA, Mensah GA, Alexander RW, et al. Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease: Application to clinical and public health practice: A statement for healthcare professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2003; 107: 499–511.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lee YC, Chibnik LB, Lu B, et al. The relationship between disease activity, sleep, psychiatric distress and pain sensitivity in rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2009; 11: R160.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Rosenson RS, Koenig W. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary heart disease. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2002; 17: 325–331.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. France CR. Decreased pain perception and risk for hypertension: Considering a common physiological mechanism. Psychophysiology. 1999; 36: 683–692.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Church TS, Barlow CE, Earnest CP, Kampert JB, Priest EL, Blair SN. Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and C-reactive protein in men. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2002; 22: 1869–1876.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kemppainen P, Hamalainen O, Kononen M. Different effects of physical exercise on cold pain sensitivity in fighter pilots with and without the history of acute in-flight neck pain attacks. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998; 30: 577–582.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Dessein PH, Joffe BI, Stanwix AE. High sensitivity C-reactive protein as a disease activity marker in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2004; 31: 1095–1097.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Edwards RR, Kronfli T, Haythornthwaite JA, Smith MT, McGuire L, Page GG. Association of catastrophizing with interleukin-6 responses to acute pain. Pain. 2008; 140: 135–144.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lopez-Garcia E, Schulze MB, Meigs JB, et al. Consumption of trans fatty acids is related to plasma biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. J Nutr. 2005; 135: 562–566.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Freeman DJ, Norrie J, Caslake MJ, et al. C-reactive protein is an independent predictor of risk for the development of diabetes in the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study. Diabetes. 2002; 51: 1596–1600.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health award R01AR051524 (Dr. Afari). Portions of this research were conducted at the University of Washington Institute of Translational Health Sciences supported by National Institutes of Health awards UL1RR025014, KL2RR025015, and TL1RR025016. Dr. Afari also is supported by the VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health. Dr. Strachan is supported in part by R21AI81347. We wish to thank the twins for taking part in the University of Washington Twin Registry and for their time and enthusiasm for this project. Portions of this study were presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Seattle, WA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System, 9500 Gilman Drive, 0737, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA

    Niloofar Afari Ph.D.

  2. Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Sheeva Mostoufi B.S.

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Carolyn Noonan M.S.

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Brian Poeschla M.D., Annemarie Succop B.A., Laura Chopko B.A. & Eric Strachan Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Niloofar Afari Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sheeva Mostoufi B.S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carolyn Noonan M.S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Brian Poeschla M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Annemarie Succop B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Laura Chopko B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Eric Strachan Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Niloofar Afari Ph.D..

About this article

Cite this article

Afari, N., Mostoufi, S., Noonan, C. et al. C-Reactive Protein and Pain Sensitivity: Findings from Female Twins. ann. behav. med. 42, 277–283 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9297-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9297-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation