Spinal cord injury-induced immune deficiency syndrome enhances infection susceptibility dependent on lesion level

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to a weakened immune system, known as spinal cord injury-induced immune deficiency syndrome (SCI-IDS). This study investigates whether SCI-IDS increases the risk of pneumonia depending on the location of the spinal cord injury. The study found that high thoracic lesions, which disrupt the sympathetic innervation to major immune organs, significantly increased bacterial load in the lungs of mice. This suggests that the level of spinal cord injury affects the body's ability to fight off infection. The study also found that thoracic spinal cord injury level was confirmed as an independent increased risk factor of pneumonia in patients after motor complete spinal cord injury. This confirms the findings in mice, in humans.

• 1
  High thoracic spinal cord injuries in mice significantly increased bacterial load in the lungs, indicating increased susceptibility to pneumonia.
• 2
  Injury to central pre-ganglionic sympathetic innervation to the spleen, but not peripheral postganglionic innervation, propagated immune susceptibility.
• 3
  Thoracic spinal cord injury level was confirmed as an independent increased risk factor of pneumonia in patients after motor complete spinal cord injury.