title: Systemic inflammation and reduced pulmonary function in chronic spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between systemic inflammation and pulmonary function in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA. eric.garshick@va.gov
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garshick
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Stolzmann
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Leslie R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein