Abstract
Introduction
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is considered to play a crucial role in the radicular pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). However, efficacy of inhibition of IL-6 for sciatica in patients with LSS has not been clarified. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of the anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, tocilizumab, on radicular pain by its epidural administration onto spinal nerves in patients with LSS.
Materials and Methods
A total of 60 patients with low back and radicular leg pain caused by spinal stenosis were investigated. In 30 patients, we infiltrated 2.0 mL of lidocaine and 80 mg of tocilizumab onto the affected spinal nerve, and 2.0 mL of lidocaine and 3.3 mg of dexamethasone were used in 30 patients. Low back pain (LBP), leg pain, and leg numbness were evaluated during 1 month after spinal nerve infiltration.
Results
Infiltration of tocilizumab was more effective than dexamethasone for leg pain (3 days, 1, 2, and 4 weeks), LBP (3 days, 1, 2, and 4 weeks), and leg numbness (3 days, 1 and 2 weeks). No adverse event was observed in either group.
Conclusion
Our results indicate that epidural administration of an anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody and, tocilizumab, onto the spinal nerve produced reduction of radicular leg pain, numbness, and LBP without adverse event. IL-6 may be one of the inducers of pain caused by spinal stenosis in humans.