Ig A antibodies to klebsiella in ankylosing spondylitis

Summary In this study anti-klebsiella Ig A values were compared in 40 patients with definite diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis and a control group of 40 healthy subjects. Anti-Klebsiella Ig A antibody values were significantly higher in patients with ankylosing spondylitis as compared to the control group (p<0.001). Correlation between these antibodies and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP, serum Ig A, HLA B 27, age, sex and disease duration was searched, but no correlation was found. In our opinion, these results support the suggestion that inflammatory response in ankylosing spondylitis is triggered by Klebsiella but is insufficient to prove the causal relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and Klebsiella.