Clinical evidence of ozone interaction with pain mediators.

OBJECTIVE: To address the clinical evidence that may support the fact that subcutaneous administration of ozone (O3) has anti-hyperalgesic effects probably acting by modifying specific pain targets. METHODS: Fifty-two patients attending the Medinat Clinic, Camerano, Ancona, Italy between October 2004 to October 2009 were eligible to participate in the study. Panoramic photos of painful and not painful areas submitted to oxygen (O2)/O3 ozone treatment injection were analyzed to detect the intensity of erythema. RESULTS: The erythematic areas after O3 subcutaneous puncture showed significant (p<0.05) increment (83 ± 5%) in the painful area versus 7 ± 6% in the contralateral area. CONCLUSION: The surrounding erythema observed during O3 intervention should explain at least in part, its interaction with some pain mediators. This may involve algesic mediators or receptors. The analgesic mechanism induced by O2/O3 may involve 2 independent steps: a short-term mechanism that may correspond with the direct oxidation on biomolecules, and a long-term mechanism that may involve the activation of antioxidant pathways. Further studies are needed to support the biochemical analgesic mechanism of O3 therapy.