Influence of Cryogenic Temperatures on Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of cryogenic temperatures used for whole-body cryotherapy on inflammatory markers in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy volunteers. The study involved 32 male persons: 16 patients with AS and 16 healthy volunteers. All subjects were exposed to a cycle of 10 daily procedures of whole-body cryotherapy at a temperature of -120°C lasting 2 minutes with subsequent kinesitherapy. In both groups, before and after a cycle of whole-body cryotherapy with subsequent kinesitherapy, serum C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, mucoprotein, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were estimated. The results of this study indicate that cryogenic temperatures used for whole-body cryotherapy decrease the levels of inflammatory markers both in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and healthy volunteers.