Absence of high amplitude propagating contractions in subjects with chronic spinal cord injury

AIM: To investigate the presence or absence of high amplitude propagating contractions (HAPC), as well as the other measures of colonic motility, in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Prolonged colonic ambulatory manometric studies were performed on 14 male volunteers: 8 with SCI (mean age, 59 +/- 13 years; mean duration of injury, 13 +/- 4 years) and 6 healthy able-bodied controls (mean age, 57 +/- 10 years). A solid-state manometry catheter was endoscopically clipped to the splenic flexure. Recording was performed for > 24 h after manometric catheter placement. RESULTS: HAPC were absent in individuals with SCI during pre-sleep, sleep, and post-sleep phases. HAPC were significantly increased after awakening in non-SCI controls (0.8 +/- 0.2 HAPC/h vs 10.5 +/- 2.0 HAPC/h, P < 0.005). The motility index was lower in those with SCI than in controls pre- and post-sleep (SCI vs non-SCI: Pre-sleep, 2.4 +/- 0.4 vs 8.8 +/- 1.9, P < 0.01; Post-sleep, 4.3 +/- 0.8 vs 16.5 +/- 4.5, P < 0.05). However; a sleep-induced depression of colonic motility was observed in both the SCI and non-SCI groups (Pre-sleep vs Sleep, non-SCI: 8.8 1.9 vs 2.1 +/- 0.9, P < 0.002; SCI: 2.4 +/- 0.4 vs 0.2 +/- 0.03, P < 0.001), with the motility index of those with SCI during sleep not significantly different than that of the controls. CONCLUSION: HAPC were not observed in individuals with SCI pre- or post-sleep. A sleep-induced depression in general colonic motility was evident in SCI and control subjects. (C) 2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.