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Systemic Inflammation and Reduced Pulmonary Function in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Author(s) -
Garshick Eric,
Stolzmann Kelly L.,
Gag David R.,
Morse Leslie R.,
Brown Robert
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.02.003
Subject(s) - medicine , vital capacity , quartile , pulmonary function testing , systemic inflammation , spinal cord injury , physical therapy , cardiology , inflammation , lung function , lung , spinal cord , confidence interval , diffusing capacity , psychiatry
Objective To evaluate the relationship between systemic inflammation and pulmonary function in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Cross‐sectional study. Setting Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Participants Fifty‐nine men with chronic SCI participating in a prior epidemiologic study. Methods Standardized assessment of pulmonary function and measurement of plasma C‐reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). Main Outcome Measurements Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Results Persons with the highest values of IL‐6 had the lowest %‐predicted FEV 1 and FVC. There was a significant inverse linear trend between quartile of IL‐6 and %‐predicted FEV 1 ( P < .001) and FVC ( P < .006), unadjusted and adjusted for SCI level and completeness of injury, obstructive lung disease history, smoking, and body mass index ( P = .010‐.039). Although not as strong as for IL‐6, there also were similar trends for %‐predicted FEV 1 and FVC with CRP. Conclusions In chronic SCI, higher levels of IL‐6 and CRP were associated with a lower FEV 1 and FVC, independent of level and completeness of injury. These results suggest that the reduction of pulmonary function after SCI is related not only to neuromuscular impairment but also to factors that promote systemic inflammation.