The Influence of Chronic Inflammation on Peripheral Motor Nerve Conduction Following Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial

• Published in: Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitation 2017-01, Vol.23 (4), p.377-385
• Main Authors: Allison, David J, Gabriel, David A, Klentrou, Panagiota, Josse, Andrea R, Ditor, David S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Proffered Papers
• ISSN: 1082-0744; 1945-5763
• DOI: 10.1310/sci16-00045

To examine the potential influence of chronic inflammation on peripheral motor nerve function in vivo following spinal cord injury (SCI). This study was part of a randomized, parallel-group, controlled clinical trial. The study included 20 participants with varying levels and severities of SCI randomized (3:2) to either a treatment group, consisting of a 12-week anti-inflammatory diet program, or control group. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months and consisted of measures of motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and amplitude as well as markers of inflammation as assessed by various pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Despite a significant reduction in inflammation in the treatment group, 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant Group × Time interaction for motor NCV ( = .77) or M-wave amplitude ( = .61). Further, the change in motor NCV and M-wave amplitude were not shown to be associated with the change in inflammatory mediators as assessed via a backwards elimination multiple regression analysis. These results suggest that at physiologically relevant concentrations, inflammatory mediators may not have a substantial influence on peripheral motor nerve conduction in vivo following SCI. Future studies may still be warranted to examine the potential for central effects.