Who can objectively assess autonomic nerve functions in patients with spinal cord injury?

Neurological functions following spinal cord injury have generally been assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. However, the scale primarily evaluates motor function, and little attention has been given to autonomic nerve functions, such as defecation, sweating or skin response. The sympathetic skin response test is a simple, safe, noninvasive electrophysiological detection method, and can objectively assess autonomic nerve functions in patients with spinal cord injury.

According to a study published in the Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 8, No. 30, 2013), the sympathetic skin response in patients was measured with an electromyography/evoked potential instrument, and spinal nerve function of patients was assessed using the ASIA scale. Results from this study showed that sympathetic skin response latency decreased significantly and amplitude increased significantly after transplantation. Concomitantly, transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells also improved American Spinal Injury Association scores for movement, pain and light touch. These findings indicate that sympathetic skin response can objectively reflect the recovery of autonomic nerve function in patients with spinal cord injury after cell transplantation. Consequently, it can be used as a supplement to ASIA scale evaluation.

More information:
Zheng ZC, Liu GF, Chen YX, Wei SG. Olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation improves sympathetic skin responses in chronic spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res. 2013;8(30):2849-2855.

Provided by Neural Regeneration Research