Comparative Determination of Immunological Indicators for Assessment of Phantom Pain

A comparative determination of immunological parameters, natural antibodies (n-Abs) to the regulators of the main systems of biochemical homeostasis was carried out: β-endorphin, serotonin, dopamine, histamine, orphanin, angiotensin, GABA, glutamate, bradykinin, vasopressin, thrombin, α2-macroglobulin in persons with phantom pain syndrome (PPS) resulting from amputation after injury. In accordance with the established diagnosis, a group of 14 people was examined, for whom features of the distribution of immunological parameters were identified. For each examined patient, an individual immunoprofile of specific n-Abs was determined. A significant increase in the level of antibodies to serotonin, histamine, and angiotensin was established for all study participants, reflecting the degree of manifestation of PPS, which does not depend on the self-esteem of the person being examined. Determining the role of regulators of biochemical homeostasis in the development of phantom pain showed that with high, moderate, and weak severity of PPS, the biogenic amine and angiotensinergic systems are activated. A decrease in PPS intensity normalizes deviations in all immunological parameters. The level of n-Abs for the pain (β-endorphin) and analgesic (orphanin) systems are significant only at low PPS. Monitoring the individual profile of n-Abs to endogenous regulators allows us to obtain an objective picture of the pain status of the patient’s body. The severity of pain, assessed on various scales, may have no connection with the degree of imbalance of these systems, with neurophysiological and other characteristics of the manifestation of pain.