Changes in gut microbiota in the acute phase after spinal cord injury correlate with severity of the lesion

Scientific Reports, 2021 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92027-z · Published: June 28, 2021

Simple Explanation

This study examines the gut microbiota of patients shortly after a spinal cord injury (SCI). Patients with SCI often experience intestinal issues, and the gut microbiota may play a role in their condition. The researchers compared the gut microbiota of SCI patients to that of healthy individuals. They looked for differences in the types and amounts of bacteria present. The study found that SCI patients had distinct differences in their gut microbiota compared to healthy individuals. These differences varied depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury.

Study Duration

60 days

Participants

100 SCI patients and healthy age- and gender-matched Italians

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
SCI patients show distinct dysbiotic signatures, including an increase in potentially pathogenic bacteria and a depletion of short-chain fatty acid producers.
2
The gut microbiota dysbiosis is related to the degree of completeness and severity of the lesion.
3
The gut microbiota profiles of SCI patients stratify by AIS score, with significant separation between patients with AIS A and B vs. those with AIS C and D.

Research Summary

This study characterized the gut microbiota in a large Italian SCI population within a short time from a traumatic injury, finding distinct dysbiotic signatures compared to healthy controls. The dysbiosis varies by lesion level and completeness, with the most neurologically impaired patients showing a more unbalanced microbial profile. The SCI-related gut microbiome dysbiosis is very likely secondary to injury and closely related to the degree of completeness and severity of the lesion, regardless of etiology and time interval.

Practical Implications

Potential for Targeted Interventions

Understanding gut microbiome changes after SCI may allow for microbiota-targeted interventions to improve patient care and outcomes.

Understanding Comorbidities

Understanding the link between dysbiosis and SCI can help predict the onset and severity of common post-injury comorbidities.

Personalized Treatment

The correlation between gut microbiota composition and the severity of the SCI lesion suggests the possibility of personalized treatment strategies targeting the gut microbiome.

Study Limitations

1
Antibiotic intake may have biased results.
2
These data need to be validated in larger independent cohorts.
3
The primer combination used was shown to be not optimal for Archaea detection, which may have biased the results.

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