Introduction and Objectives
To measure plasma levels of β-endorphin and ACTH, and to correlate their values with pain intensity in patients undergoing ESWL.
Material and Methods
25 patients who hadn’t previously undergone ESWL treatment were enrolled into this study. All stones were completely radioopaque at plain x-ray film and localized in renal pelvis. Their diameters were ≤20 mm. 2000 shoch waves were given on the Pck Stolith ESWL machine. Plasma levels of β-endorphin and ACTH were measured before and 10 min, 30 min after the beginning of the treatment. Pain intensity was scored using 10-points the Visual Analog Scale after the end of the ESWL treatment.
Results
A statistical difference was obtained between the plasma levels of β-endorphin at 0, 10 and 30 min of ESWL treatment (p = 0.002, p < 0.05 Friedman test). A statistical difference was not obtained between the plasma levels of ACTH at 0, 10 and 30 min of ESWL treatment (p = 0.698, p > 0.05 Friedman test. Between 10 and 30 min plasma levels of β-endorphin level were not found to be significantly different (p = 0.397, p > 0.05 Wilcoxin test). A moderate positive correlation was determined between 10 min β-endorphin levels and VAS scores (p = 0.01, p < 0.05 Friedman test.
Conclusions
Stres and pain caused by ESWL can be much better evaluated by β-endorphin rather than ACTH.
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
