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Symptomatic disc herniation and serum lipid levels

Umile Giuseppe Longo1, Luca Denaro, Filippo Spiezia

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Biomedico University, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.

European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
|March 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

High blood lipid levels, including triglycerides and total cholesterol, are linked to symptomatic herniated lumbar disc. This suggests serum lipids may be a risk factor for intervertebral disc (IVD) pathology.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Degenerative intervertebral disc disease (IVD) is linked to poor blood supply and increased risk of ischemic heart disease.
  • Obesity, tobacco use, high blood cholesterol, and triglycerides are potential risk factors for IVD degeneration.
  • Atherosclerosis, driven by lipid levels, may reduce blood supply to the poorly vascularized IVD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum lipid profiles and symptomatic herniated lumbar disc.
  • To determine if elevated total cholesterol and triglycerides are risk factors for IVD pathology.

Main Methods:

  • A frequency-matched case-control study involving 384 patients.
  • Group 1: 169 patients who underwent surgery for symptomatic disc herniation.
  • Group 2 (control): 169 patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy, matched for age and gender.

Main Results:

  • Patients with symptomatic herniated lumbar disc had significantly higher triglyceride concentrations (P = 0.02).
  • Patients with symptomatic herniated lumbar disc also showed significantly higher total cholesterol concentrations (P = 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Serum lipid levels, specifically total cholesterol and triglycerides, may be significant risk factors for intervertebral disc pathology.
  • Understanding these lipid-related factors could lead to novel strategies for preventing and managing IVD diseases.

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