Shoulder adhesive capsulitis in the early freezing phase: correlations between blood exams and Constant Score

We analysed the possibility that some blood values could be considered as a prognostic index of shoulder adhesive capsulitis. Fifty-six conservatively treated patients were clinically evaluated and prospectively followed at the moment of their freezing phase. At the beginning of the disease (time 0) and after 4 months (time 1), we registered some blood parameters values and their Constant Score (CS). Differences emerged for the white blood cell count (P = 0.037) that decreased and for the CS (P < 0.00001) that increased. At time 0, no significant correlation emerged between the studied parameters and the CS. At time 1, significant inverse correlations with the CS were found for glycaemia (P = 0.007), triglycerides (P = 0.05), ESR (P = 0.017) and CRP (P = 0.013). At time 1, patients with a better shoulder function were those with a low value of glycaemia, triglycerides, ESR and CRP.