Elevated Levels of PGE2-Metabolite in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Cox-2 Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Chronic, Post Cholecystectomy Pain and Visceral Hyperalgesia Compared to Healthy Controls. A Hypothesis-Generating Pilot Study.

Chronic, abdominal pain remains a problem in a subset of patients after cholecystectomy. The cause is often obscure but central sensitization may be an important component and could theoretically be mediated by spinal PGE2, which is regulated by several cytokines. The aim of the study was to examine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of participants with post cholecystectomy syndrome and healthy volunteers for signs of PGE2 and cytokine mediated central sensitization.