Scientists at the Ohio State College of Medicine have found that severe spinal cord injury can cause immune deficiencies that put patients at risk of developing life-threatening infections. The results of the research were published in the journal brain.
The doctors analyzed the data of 111 patients and found that shortly after the spinal cord injury, the monocyte cells of the immune system lost their activity. They normally fight bacterial infections. These patients also experienced a decrease in the levels of antibodies and immunoglobulins in the blood, which play an important role in the body’s acquired immunity.
The researchers also found that small amounts of mHLA-DR molecules on the surface of monocytes are associated with susceptibility to blood poisoning in critically ill patients. Those who had an infection within a week or two after injury had particularly low mHLA-DR values only 15 hours after injury.
Patients at highest risk of developing immunodeficiency syndrome
complete spinal cord injury. Patients with more serious injuries had more frequent and severe infections of the lungs and urinary tract.
The study authors noted that infections and subsequent sepsis are the leading cause of death after spinal cord injury. Its results may indicate that the cause is neurogenic immunodeficiency syndrome.
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