Plasma Concentrations of Pro-inflammatory Cytokine IL-6 and Antiinflammatory Cytokine IL-10 in Short- and Long-term Opioid Users with Noncancer Pain.

Introduction: Little is known whether the duration of opioid use influences the concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Objectives: This study examined the plasma concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 10 (IL-10), in short-, and long-term opioid users with noncancer pain.

Materials And Methods: Adult patients with opioid therapy for noncancer pain were recruited from pain clinics at two tertiary hospital settings in Malaysia between February 2016 and March 2017.