Abstract
<jats:p>Today, the issue of the influence of stress on the state of connective tissue in a living organism is particularly relevant, since in our modern conditions the development of chronic stress contributes to the progression of many diseases, especially degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine. Skeletal tissues are known to respond to such exogenous influences as pressure, stretching, physical exertion, vibration, hyper- and hypodynamia, with a complex of adaptive reactions having a specific effect on cartilage and bone tissue. The aim of this study is to analyze data on the clinical, diagnostic and pathogenetic significance of some biochemical markers that can potentially be used to assess the condition of patients with spinal overload under stress. Results. The following biochemical markers appear to be the most informative for assessing stress-related alterations in patients with spinal overload. Glucose and glycated hemoglobin may serve as indicators of glycemic status and long-term glycemic variability and may contribute to predicting the induction of pyroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells of the intervertebral discs. Cortisol is considered a marker reflecting stress-related intensification of pathological processes within intervertebral disc cells, impaired chondrogenesis, and reduced regenerative capacity of the intervertebral disc. C-reactive protein may be useful for evaluating systemic inflammatory responses and monitoring patients with stress-associated conditions, including during the recovery period following post-traumatic stress disorder. Insulin reflects metabolic alterations associated with chronic stress and may indicate cortisol-mediated changes in glycemic regulation. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) serves as a marker of immune dysregulation and systemic inflammatory activation in patients exposed to stress under conditions of spinal overload. Conclusion. This research highlights the clinical and pathogenetic importance of stress and spinal overload in patients with degenerative spinal disorders. Understanding their interaction may improve patient assessment and contribute to the prediction of further metabolic alterations and disease progression.</jats:p>