The acute effect of dopamine infusion on lipid and cytokine concentrations in persons with a cervical spinal cord injury-a pilot study.

Study Design: Acute experimental study.

Objectives: To investigate the acute response of markers of lipid metabolism and interleukin (IL)-6 to dopamine infusion in people with a cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI).

Setting: Laboratory of Wakayama Medical University, Japan.

Methods: Ten participants, four with CSCI and six AB individuals, underwent 50 min of dopamine infusion. Blood samples were collected prior to, immediately after and 1 h following cessation of dopamine infusion for the determination of circulating catecholamine, lipid, ketone body and IL-6 concentrations.

Results: The adrenaline concentration following dopamine infusion was increased by 59 ± 7% in CSCI (p = 0.038, Cohen's d effect size (ES): 1.47), while this was not changed in AB (p = 0.223). Triglycerides and acetoacetic acid concentration were increased in both groups, immediately after and 1 h post-infusion (triglycerides p ≤ 0.042, ES CSCI: 1.00, ES AB: 1.12; acetoacetic acid p ≤ 0.030; ES CSCI: 1.72, ES AB: 1.31). 3-Hydroxybutyric acid concentration was increased in CSCI only (48 ± 15%, p = 0.039, ES: 1.44; AB p = 0.115). Dopamine infusion did not affect plasma IL-6 concentration in either group (p ≥ 0.368).

Conclusions: Dopamine infusion induced a sustained increase in triglyceride and ketone body concentrations in persons with CSCI. In contrast, cytokine concentrations were not affected by dopamine infusion. These findings suggest that circulating catecholamines can stimulate metabolism in people with CSCI despite the presence of autonomic dysfunction.