Researchers at Ohio State University College of Medicine have demonstrated that severe spinal cord injury can compromise the immune system, creating a heightened vulnerability to life-threatening infections. The study findings were published in a respected neuroscience journal.
The team examined data from 111 individuals and observed that, soon after injury, monocytes—the white blood cells that spearhead bacterial defense—lost much of their activity. In parallel, patients showed a drop in antibodies and immunoglobulins circulating in the blood, molecules crucial for building acquired immunity over time.
Additionally, the researchers noted that small amounts of mHLA-DR molecules on the surface of monocytes correlate with a higher risk of blood poisoning in critically ill patients. Those who developed infections within one to two weeks after injury tended to have especially low mHLA-DR levels, with marked reductions appearing as early as about 15 hours after the event.
Individuals with complete spinal cord injuries faced the greatest danger, with higher rates and more severe infections in the lungs and urinary tract. The study highlights a pattern where immune decline follows spinal trauma and may help explain why infections and subsequent sepsis are leading killers after such injuries. This pattern has prompted consideration of neurogenic immunodeficiency as a possible underlying mechanism.
Across the broader medical landscape, researchers continue to explore how spinal cord injuries disrupt immune function and what this means for monitoring, prevention, and treatment strategies in both the United States and Canada. Clinicians are increasingly aware that early identification of immune compromise can influence care plans, infection surveillance, and the timely use of antibiotics or supportive therapies when sepsis risk rises.
In practical terms, these findings underscore the importance of comprehensive post-injury care that includes immune system assessment as part of the standard of practice for people with severe spinal cord injuries. Ongoing investigations seek to clarify how to bolster immune resilience after trauma, with the aim of reducing infection rates, shortening hospital stays, and improving survival outcomes for patients facing the most serious spinal injuries.