Skin response to delayed hypersensitivity testing in persons with unilateral stroke-related paresis: implications for people with spinal cord injury.
BACKGROUND
Vaccination rates among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) could be improved if it can be shown that vaccination performed on insensate areas is effective. This would eliminate the the risk of discomfort and soreness at the injection site.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether immune responsiveness varies between areas with intact and impaired innervation in patients with stroke-related paresis.


METHODS
Prospective trial in which each subject served as his or her own control.


METHODS
Rehabilitation wards and long-term care units at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.


METHODS
Individuals with a history of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) affecting 1 side of the body.


METHODS
The Multitest cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and purified protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin were administered intradermally to each arm of each subject.


METHODS
Total millimeters of induration in response to either test and positive vs negative responses to either test were compared between the 2 arms of each subject.


RESULTS
Response to delayed hypersensitivity testing did not differ between the arms affected and unaffected by CVA in each subject, and the time since CVA also did not affect the magnitude of the skin response.


CONCLUSIONS
Skin testing for delayed hypersensitivity can be effectively administered in the paretic arms of persons who have experienced CVA. Although this study was performed in patients with stroke-related impairment, it has implications for vaccine administration in individuals with SCI-related neurologic deficits.
Trautner
Barbara W
BW
Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. trautner@bcm.edu
Zimmermann
Kuno P
KP
Darouiche
Rabih O
RO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D014728:Veterans