Open AccessAssociation of Interindividual Variation in Plasma Oxytocin With Postcesarean Incisional Pain
Author(s) -
Holly B. Ende,
Mieke Soens,
Meghndi,
Gary R. Strichartz,
Kristin L. Schreiber
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/ane.0000000000003567
Subject(s) - medicine , oxytocin , anesthesia , nociception , plasma concentration , plasma levels , postoperative pain , surgery , obstetrics , receptor
Oxytocin has known antinociceptive effects and is upregulated perinatally. This pilot study investigated the association of plasma oxytocin and postcesarean incisional pain. Plasma samples from 18 patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery were drawn at 1 hour preoperatively and 1 and 24 hours postoperatively and analyzed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pain was assessed at 1 day, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Incisional pain at 24 hours was inversely correlated with 1- and 24-hour oxytocin levels, with higher plasma oxytocin associated with lower pain (ρ, -0.52 and -0.66; P < .05).