Damage to left side of brain raises infection risk

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Damage to left side of brain raises infection risk

2004-05-24 15:59:48

 

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Damage to the left side of the brain

from a stroke or other cause has been linked to an increased risk of

infection and now researchers may have uncovered one reason why.

 

As reported in the Annals of Neurology, damage to the dominant side

of the brain, which is the left side in most people, seems to

suppress the immune system. This effect could make a person more

susceptible to infection.

 

The findings are based on a study of 22 patients who underwent brain

surgery for epilepsy. Surgery on the dominant side resulted in a

reduced number of various immune cells. Just the opposite occurred

with damage to the nondominant side.

 

Although similar findings have been shown in animal studies, the

results in humans have been inconclusive, lead author Dr. Kimford J.

Meador, from Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, and

colleagues note.

 

" These findings raise the possibility that doctors need to be more

aggressive in protecting patients from infection following strokes

or surgery on the left side of the brain, " Meador said in a

statement.

 

" The immune and nervous systems are interlinked, influencing each

other in complex ways that we are just beginning to understand, "

Meador added.

 

SOURCE: Annals of Neurology, May 24th online issue, 2004