OBJECTIVETo detect the concentration of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the serum of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury and evaluate its relation with the pathologic classification of the spinal cord injury.

METHODSMCP-1 concentration in the serum of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), single spine compression and healthy subjects were detected by ELISA, respectively in the present study and the magnetic resonance imaging data of these patients were studied at the same time on a blind base.

RESULTSSerum level of MCP-1 in iSCI patients was 428 pg/ml +/- 11 pg/ml by ELISA, which was higher than both that of the patients with single spine compression and of controls, with the concentration of 184 pg/ml +/- 21 pg/ml and 124 pg/ml +/- 15 pg/ml, respectively. There was significant difference between any two groups (P < 0.01). iSCI patients with normal MRI showed a lower serum level of MCP-1 as 312 pg/ml+/- 30 pg/ml. Pathological classification of spinal cord edema and hematoma corresponded to 390 pg/ml +/- 16 pg/ml and 508 pg/ml+/- 24 pg/ml in the concentration of MCP-1.

CONCLUSIONSMCP-1 may induce secondary inflammatory response by recruiting inflammatory cells to the injury site and thus affect the prognosis of spinal cord injury.