肺炎衣原体感染对冠心病发病影响的临床观察

目的 研究肺炎衣原体(Cpn)感染与冠心病(CHD)的关系.方法 应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)测定冠心病组(120例)和对照组(111例)血清Cpn特异性抗体IgM、IgG及IgA,同时应用免疫浊度法测定冠心病组(97例)和对照组(95例)血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)含量.结果 冠心病组血清Cpn抗体IgG和/或IgA阳性率及IgG和IgA滴度明显高于对照组(均P<0.05);急性心肌梗死(AMI)、不稳定型心绞痛(UAP)及慢性冠心病(CCHD)患者血清Cpn抗体IgG及IgA滴度均分别高于对照组(均P<0.05);冠心病组Cpn抗体IgM阳性率及滴度与对照组无明显差异;IgG和/或IgA及CRP均为阳性组的冠心病发生率明显增高;多元回归分析显示Cpn慢性感染与冠心病发病呈正相关(P=0.045),Cpn慢性感染与冠心病其他危险因素间无相关性.结论Cpn慢性感染可作为冠心病的独立危险因素,炎症反应的发生可能是Cpn慢性感染导致动脉粥样硬化的关键环节.     

肺炎衣原体慢性感染对血脂水平的影响

目的探讨肺炎衣原体慢性感染对人血脂水平的影响。方法横断面研究方法;采用微量免疫荧光法检测血浆中肺炎衣原体特异性抗体,以肺炎衣原体IgA升高(滴度≥1∶32)的125名健康体检者为研究组,以性别、年龄近似但IgA抗体效价不升高(滴度<1∶32)的64名同期体检者为对照组,比较2组血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯水平的差异。结果研究组血清总胆固醇水平(4.28±0.74mmol/ml)高于对照组(4.01±0.74mmol/l),差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),甘油三酯水平差别无统计学意义。血清总胆固醇水平与肺炎衣原体特异性抗体(IgG、IgM)、性别、年龄、家族史、吸烟史等因素无关。结论:肺炎衣原体慢性感染与血清总胆固醇水平升高密切相关。     

肺炎衣原体感染与冠心病相关性的调查研究

目的:探讨肺炎衣原体(chlamydia pneumoniae, Cpn)感染对冠心病(coronary heart disease, CHD)形成与发展的影响.方法:运用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)定性检测Cpn特异性抗体IgM、IgG (CpnIgMAb、CpnIgGAb),使用常规方法定量检测三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL)的含量水平.结果:CDH组CpnIgMAb、CpnIgGAb的阳性率依次为44.11%、73.53%,健康对照组CpnIgMAb、CpnIgGAb的阳性率依次为23.33%、46.66%,两组比较,CDH组CpnIgGAb的阳性率明显高于健康对照组(P＜0.05);CDH组TG、TC、LDL、HDL的含量依次为(2.61±2.72)mmol/L、(6.13±1.72) mmol/L、(3.71±1.59) mmol/L、(1.13±0.27) mmol/L,对照组TG、TC、LDL、HDL的含量依次为(1.40±1.37) mmol/L、 (4.34±1.38) mmol/L、 (2.43±1.44) mmol/L、(1.15±0.23) mmol/L.两组比较,CDH组TG、TC、LDL的含量明显高于健康对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).结论:Cpn慢性感染对CHD的形成、发展有促进作用.     

冠心病患者肺炎衣原体感染炎症因子与血脂的水平

目的:探讨冠心病患者肺炎衣原体感染阳性率,炎症因子与血脂的水平。方法:选择我院的冠心病患者50例作为冠心病组,同期在门诊就诊的非冠心病患者33例作为非冠心病对照组,比较两组肺炎衣原体(Cpn)IgG阳性率,血脂和炎症因子的水平。结果:与非冠心病对照组比较,冠心病组血脂中TC[(3.96±1.07)mmol/L比(4.75±1.33)mmol/L]、TG[(1.05±0.42)mmol/L比(1.67±0.82)mmol/L]、LDL-C[(2.12±0.47)mmol/L比(2.88±0.86)mmol/L]水平明显升高(P均<0.05);炎性因子C-反应蛋白[CRP,(3.85±0.87)mg/L比(5.80±1.60)mg/L]、白介素-6[IL-6,(6.50±1.53)mg/L比(15.80±7.62)mg/L]、肿瘤坏死因子-α[TNF-α,(5.50±1.60)mg/L比(16.10±2.20)mg/L]明显升高(P均<0.05);冠心病组血清中Cpn IgG抗体阳性率明显高于非冠心病对照组(78.0%比21.2%,P<0.05)。结论:本组冠心病患者肺炎衣原体阳性率炎症因子与血脂水平显著上升,感染与血脂异常可能有协同作用,共同引起冠心病发生发展。     

冠状动脉扩张症与肺炎衣原体幽门螺杆菌感染及炎性标志物的相关性研究

目的探索血清中肺炎衣原体、幽门螺杆菌抗体阳性及炎性标志物与冠状动脉扩张症之间的关联性。方法在2005年7月至2006年5月济宁市第一人民医院经冠状动脉造影确诊的缺血性心脏病患者87例,分为血管扩张但不伴动脉粥样硬化者31例为冠状动脉扩张组,无冠状动脉扩张者56例作为对照组。用ELISA法检测血清中肺炎衣原体IgM、IgG,幽门螺杆菌IgA、IgG,白介素-6(IL-6),用微粒增强免疫比浊法测定超敏C-反应蛋白(hsCRP)。结果冠状动脉扩张组30例血清肺炎衣原体IgG抗体阳性,占冠状动脉扩张组总例数的97%;对照组阳性者40例,占71%(P<0.01)。冠状动脉扩张组25例肺炎衣原体IgM阳性,占81%;对照组26例阳性,占46%(P<0.01)。冠状动脉扩张组12例幽门螺杆菌IgA阳性,占39%;对照组27例阳性,占48%(P=0.503)。与对照组相比,冠状动脉扩张组血清中hsCRP升高[(5.639±3.530)mg/L对(4.390±3.560)mg/L,P=0.032]。结论肺炎衣原体感染与冠状动脉扩张症之间存在相关性,且伴有hsCRP的升高,提示在冠状动脉扩张症的发病机制中,可能有感染因素参与。     

冠心病与肺炎衣原体感染的相关性研究

目的了解冠心病患者肺炎衣原体(Chlamydiapneumoniae,Cpn)感染状况,探讨肺炎衣原体感染与冠心病的关系。方法采用聚合酶链式反应、双抗体夹心法和间接ELISA法对200例经冠状动脉造影证实的冠心病患者和非冠心病患者,进行CpnDNA、血清循环免疫复合物和IgG抗体检测。结果冠心病组CpnDNA、血清循环免疫复合物和IgG抗体阳性检出率依次为43.4%、64.2%、65.4%。对照组CpnDNA、免疫复合物、IgG抗体阳性检出率依次为7.3%、39.0%、31.7%。冠心病组CpnDNA、循环免疫复合物和IgG抗体阳性率均高于对照组(P<0.01)。结论Cpn感染与冠心病关系密切。     

血清肺炎衣原体IgA抗体水平与缺血性脑卒中关系的研究

目的探讨血清肺炎衣原体IgA抗体水平与缺血性脑卒中发生的关系。方法采用病例对照研究的方法,对2002年10月至2004年7月中国医科大学附属第一医院临床流行病学教研室从彰武县农村调查发现的符合入选标准的117例缺血性脑卒中患者中随机抽取76例作为病例组,同时从该调查人群中选取80例与病例组相匹配的无脑卒中史者作为对照组,每人采血5mL,采用EIA试剂盒进行血清肺炎衣原体IgA抗体的检测。结果(1)病例组与对照组肺炎衣原体IgA抗体EIU均值分别为45.56±40.95和48.75±40.72,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。(2)病例组与对照组肺炎衣原体IgA抗体阳性率分别为72.4%和75.0%,两组间差异无显著性(P>0.05),优势比OR=0.873(95%可信区间0.428～1.782)。(3)对缺血性脑卒中发生及其危险因素的多元Logistic回归分析,得到的调整IgA抗体阳性率与缺血性脑卒中的关系仍无显著性意义。结论肺炎衣原体抗体与缺血性脑卒中发生可能无关联。     

Cpn慢性感染与老年呼吸道疾病的血清学相关性研究

目的　观察肺炎衣原体 (Cpn)慢性感染与老年呼吸道疾病相关的血清学证据。　 方法 　采用间接免疫荧光法检测Cpn特异性抗体IgA、IgG、IgM。　 结果 　老年组、非老年组和健康对照组的慢性感染率分别为60 .0 %、3 3 3 %和 2 0 4% ,既往感染率分别为 71 1%、48 3 %和 47 2 % ,差异均具有显著性 (均为P <0 0 1)。在慢性感染方面 ,老年组和非老年组间、老年组和健康对照组间差异有显著性 (均为P <0 0 1) ;非老年组和健康对照组间差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;在既往感染方面 ,3组的统计结果同慢性感染相一致。　 结论 　Cpn是老年呼吸道感染的重要病原菌之一 ,Cpn慢性感染与老年人肺癌、慢性阻塞性肺疾病 (COPD)等密切相关。     

冠心病患者甘露聚糖结合凝集素、肺炎衣原体感染的变化及相关性分析

目的探讨冠心病(CHD)患者血浆甘露聚糖结合凝集素(MBL)含量及肺炎衣原体(Cpn)感染情况及冠心病的可能致病机制。方法采集100例CHD患者和60例健康对照者抗凝血,用ELISA法对血浆中MBL含量及肺炎衣原体(Cpn)IgG进行检测。结果CHD患者血浆MBL含量(3900μg/L)高于健康对照组(2056μg/L)(P<0.01);CHD患者血浆CpnIgG阳性率(51.00%)高于健康对照组(33.33%)(P<0.05);CHD中51例血浆CpnIgG阳性者MBL含量(3819μg/L)与49例血浆CpnIgG阴性者MBL含量(3984μg/L)比较,差别无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论MBL和Cpn感染与CHD之间存在一定关系,可能参与了CHD的发生、发展过程。Cpn感染阳性和阴性组的MBL含量未显示统计学差异。     

肺炎衣原体与不稳定性心绞痛相关性的临床研究

目的　探讨肺炎衣原体感染与不稳定性心绞痛 (UAP)发病的关系。方法　UAP、稳定性心绞痛 (SAP)各 30例及正常对照组 2 0名。检测肺炎衣原体特异性抗体IgG、IgM滴度 ,肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)、C反应蛋白 (CRP)水平 ,组织型纤溶酶原激活剂 (tPA )及其抑制物 1(PAI 1)活性。结果　 (1)UAP组TNFα、CRP和PAI 1较SAP组和对照组升高 ;(2 ) 3组肺炎衣原体 IgG阳性率分别为 83.3%、6 0 %和 35 %,UAP组高于SAP组和对照组。IgM阳性率组间比较差异无显著性意义 ;(3)IgG阳性组TNFα、CRP、PAI 1及TG、TC、LDL C均显著高于阴性组 ,tPA低于阴性组。IgM阳性组和阴性组各参数比较差异无显著性意义。结论　肺炎衣原体慢性感染与UAP发生有关 ,其参与UAP的机制可能是 :肺炎衣原体感染诱导TNFα和CRP产生 ,促进PAI 1活性表达、降低tPA活性 ,并干扰血浆脂质代谢 ,从而促进UAP发生。     

Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection status is dependent on the subtypes of asthma and allergy.

This study was undertaken to investigate the association of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection (CPI) with asthma and allergy. One hundred forty-one patients with asthma aged 3-21 years, 125 healthy controls aged 3-21 years, and 62 allergic but nonasthmatic patients aged 4-20 years participated in this study. C. pneumoniae-specific antibodies were measured by ELISA. There were no significant differences in the percentage of patients positive for C. pneumoniae-specific antibodies between the three groups. Significantly more allergic asthmatic patients were positive for C. pneumoniae-specific IgA and IgA + IgG than nonallergic asthmatic patients, and this difference remained significant after adjustment for age and gender: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 5.9 (1.7-26.2) and p = 0.01 for IgA, and OR = 5.2 (1.6-25.8) and p = 0.02 for IgA + IgG. The prevalence of the C. pneumoniae-specific IgA and the IgA + IgG positivity also was significantly lower in the nonallergic asthmatic group than in the allergic and control groups (p < 0.005). No food/drug-allergic patient was positive for C. pneumoniae-specific IgA, whereas 41.6% of the inhalative-allergic patients were positive for this antibody (p = 0.002). In our population CPI does not associate directly with asthma and allergy, but chronic or recurrent infection is associated with allergic asthma and inhalative allergy as opposed to nonallergic asthma and noninhalative allergy.     

Autoimmunity to human heat shock protein 60, Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, and inflammation in predicting coronary risk

Heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection have both been associated with cardiovascular diseases. Our aim was to study the role of Hsp60 antibodies as coronary risk predictors and their association with C pneumoniae infection and inflammation. This was a prospective, nested, case-control study. The cases consisted of 239 middle-aged Finnish men who developed myocardial infarction or coronary death during the follow-up. Baseline levels of IgA and IgG antibodies to human-specific and C pneumoniae-specific Hsp60 were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Human Hsp60 IgA, but not IgG or C pneumoniae Hsp60, antibodies were a significant risk factor for coronary events (odds ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6, when the fourth and first quartiles are compared). When an elevated human Hsp60 IgA antibody level (above the second quartile) was present simultaneously with a high C pneumoniae IgA antibody level (the third quartile) and an elevated C-reactive protein level (the second quartile), compared with all factors at low levels, the risk was 7.0 (95% CI 2.6 to 19.1) without adjustment and 5.0 (95% CI 1.8 to 14.2) when adjustment was made for age and smoking. In conclusion, an elevated human Hsp60 IgA antibody level was a risk factor for coronary events, especially when it was present together with C pneumoniae infection and inflammation.     

Acute Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with heat-shock-protein-60-related response in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Recent evidence has suggested an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary atherosclerosis. A significant association has also been detected between heat shock protein (HSP) 60 antibody and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to define the relationship between instability of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and serum levels of HSP60 and C. pneumoniae antibodies. Blood samples for the measurement of serum antibody titers were obtained from 1131 patients with ischemic heart disease (65+/-9 years; male/female, 828/303) and 127 non-IHD controls with normal coronary arteries (64+/-9 years; male/female, 60/67) on the day of cardiac catheterization. The serum levels of anti-human HSP60 IgG antibody and anti-chlamydial IgM, but not IgG or IgA, antibody were significantly higher in ACS patients than in stable IHD patients or controls. These results suggest that acute C. pneumoniae infection with HSP60-related immunological responses may contribute to the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes.     

Antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and haemostatic factors in acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation

BACKGROUND: Various chronic infections, including Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae), are regarded as one of the possible factors which initiates, progresses and exacerbates atherosclerotic process. The relationship between C. pneumoniae infection and haemostatic factors which also may promote atherosclerosis, has not yet been established. AIM: To assess the relationship between C. pneumoniae-specific IgA and IgG serum antibodies and haemostatic factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: The study group consisted of 31 patients (17 males, mean age 62 years, and 14 females, mean age 60.6 years) with ACS and without ST segment elevation in whom antibodies to C. pneumoniae and such haemostatic factors as von Willebrand factor (vWF), thrombomodulin (TM), tissue plasmin activator (tPA), tPA inhibitor (PAI-1) and fibrinogen were measured. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with C. pneumoniae seropositivity was 35.4% in our study which is lower than that reported in literature. No significant relationship between vWF, TM, tPA and PAI-1 levels, and C. pneumoniae infection was found whereas a significant (p=0.05) relationship between C. pneumoniae-specific IgG antibodies and fibrinogen level was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Excluding fibrinogen, the presence of antibodies to C. pneumoniae is not associated with increased levels of haemostatic factors in patients with ACS without ST segment elevation.     

High prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and increased high-sensitive C-reactive protein in patients with vascular dementia

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationships between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, carotid atherosclerosis, and dyslipidemia in patients with vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). DESIGN: Case control study. SETTING: Showa University Karasuyama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty-four elderly subjects: 31 with VaD, 61 with AD, and 32 age-matched controls without dementia. MEASUREMENTS: Presence of antibodies to C. pneumoniae (immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA), the serum concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and atherogenic lipoproteins, and the carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques were determined. RESULTS: Age; body mass index; systolic and diastolic blood pressures; and fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A(1c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A-I, B, and E concentrations did not differ significantly between the three groups, but the mean IMT and frequency of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries, as well as the serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein(a), and lipid peroxides were significantly greater in VaD patients than in AD patients or nondemented controls. Hs-CRP concentrations and prevalence of C. pneumoniae IgG and IgA antibodies also were significantly higher in VaD patients than in AD patients and nondemented controls. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that carotid IMT and plaques, LDL-C, lipid peroxides, hs-CRP, and IgG and IgA C. pneumoniae seropositivity were independent risk factors for VaD. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that carotid atherosclerosis, atherogenic lipoproteins, and C. pneumoniae infection (as documented by the IgG and IgA seropositivity together with increased hs-CRP) may be VaD risk factors.     

Chlamydia pneumoniae and severity of asthma

A substantial increase in the prevalence of asthma in the Western world during the last few decades has led to a continuous search for novel factors that might be involved in the development of the disease. We carried out a study to clarify whether there is a relationship between severity of asthma and Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific titres at the group level and whether antibodies to the 60 kDa chlamydial heat shock protein (chsp60) are associated with asthma. A total of 116 (31 men, 85 women) consecutive asthma patients from a chest clinic were recruited and divided into 3 groups according to the severity of the disease: there were 13 asthmatics with severe, 54 with moderate and 49 with mild asthma. In addition, 50 (31 men, 19 women) consecutive blood donors were enrolled to serve as a control group. Sera for the measurements of specific IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies using a microimmunofluorescence test and of chsp60 using an enzyme immunoassay were obtained upon enrolment and also 3-4 months later from the asthma patients. Severe and moderate asthma were found to be strongly associated with elevated IgA antibody levels to C. pneumoniae [odds ratio (OR) 5.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-23.72 for severe and OR 5.65, 95% CI 2.05-15.53 for moderate asthma] in a logistic regression model. Furthermore, in women, the occurrence of elevated IgA antibody levels and the age-adjusted geometric mean titres of IgA antibodies were significantly higher among the asthmatics than the controls (p = 0.003 and 0.04, respectively). Antibodies to chsp60 occurred more frequently and in higher concentrations among the asthmatics than the controls, although the differences did not reach significance. In conclusion, severe and moderate asthma were significantly associated with elevated IgA antibody levels to C. pneumoniae suggestive of chronic infection. Antibodies to chsp60 did not prove to be a useful marker of such an infection among the asthmatics studied here.     

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and inflammation in adults with asthma

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and immune response to the C. pneumoniae heat shock protein 60 (CpHsp60) have been suggested to be associated with asthma. OBJECTIVES: To study whether a slightly elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level as a marker of low-grade systemic inflammation has a role in this association, we collected serum and sputum samples from 103 asthma patients with disease severity ranging from mild to moderate and from 30 healthy volunteers. METHODS: IgA and IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae elementary bodies (CpEB) and CpHsp60 were measured by enzyme immunoassay. Serum CRP levels were measured with a rapid two-site ultra-sensitive assay based on time-resolved immunofluorometry. RESULTS: The asthma patients, especially those with moderate asthma, had higher serum IgA antibody levels to CpHsp60 than the healthy controls (test for trend, p = 0.05), whereas antibody levels to CpEB antigen did not differ between the study groups. CRP levels were higher in both asthma groups compared to the control group and moreover, the patients with moderate asthma had higher CRP levels than those with mild asthma (test for trend, p < 0.01). The subjects with a slightly elevated CRP level, defined as > or =1.8 mg/l, had higher CpEB IgA (p = 0.001), CpEB IgG (p = 0.008) and CpHsp60 IgA (p = 0.023) antibody levels in serum compared to the subjects with lower CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS: Slightly elevated CRP levels as a marker of low-grade systemic inflammation may be associated with C. pneumoniae infection in asthma patients.     

Occurrence of chlamydia infection in relation to lipidemia indicators in the etiology of unstable angina pectoris

The presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection was examined in 66 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 155 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AIM) and 112 controls without signs of a heart disease. Besides evaluation of anamnestic data, ECG and coronarographic examination, serologic examination of C. pneumoniae by the microfluorescent method anti-MOMP and ELISA of anti-LPS of globulin IgA and IgG serum classes in every patient was performed. Moreover, in patients with UAP, routine biochemical methods for the detection of total cholesterol levels and its lipoprotein fractions LDL, HDL and triacylglycerols were used. The levels of anti-MOMP C. pneumoniae antibodies and anti-LPS of the IgA class in sera of patients with UAP were statistically highly significantly increased (chi 2 = 19.54; chi 2 = 12.92; p < 0.01) and anti-LPS of the IgG class significantly increased (chi 2 = 6.15; p < 0.05) in comparison with controls. It can be assumed that the participation of C. pneumoniae is aetiologically possible. Total cholesterol levels, LDL, HDL and triacylgylcerols were increased above the normal range in 34.8%, 48.5%, 39.4% and 28.8% of patients, respectively. The anti-LPS C. pneumoniae ELISA test of globulin class IgA in patients with UAP seems to be the most suitable method for the determination of infections with C. pneumoniae.     

Lack of association between seropositivity to Chlamydia pneumoniae and carotid atherosclerosis.

Since the Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae)-specific antibody was shown to be associated with acute myocardial infarction and chronic coronary heart disease, the role of C. pneumoniae in the etiology of cardiovascular disease has been studied by a number of groups. We investigated the association between the C. pneumoniae-specific antibody, measured by microimmunofluorescence, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and atherosclerosis in a randomly selected urban population. Overall, immunoglobulin-G (IgG) seroprevalence to C. pneumoniae in this sample of 1,034 subjects was 58%, whereas IgA seroprevalence was 32%. There was a decline in seropositivity with age for IgG but not IgA. Men were more likely than women to be IgG (66% vs 51%, chi-square p = 0.001) and IgA seropositive (36% vs 28%, chi-square p = 0.005). Current smokers had higher IgA seropositivity than nonsmokers (43% vs 30%). Those patients with a family history of cerebrovascular disease were more likely to have IgG antibody than those without (75% vs 57%, chi-square p= 0.007). Neither IgG nor IgA seropositivity was associated with the standard risk factors of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or family history of ischemic heart disease, nor was seropositivity associated with carotid intima medial thickening (IMT) or atherosclerotic plaque as measured by carotid B-mode ultrasound. There was no difference between those participants who were IgG or IgA seropositive and seronegative in measurements of mean IMT, prevalence of abnormal IMT, and percentage with atherosclerotic plaque. In conclusion, although C. pneumoniae was associated with several risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a large cross-sectional population, we found no independent association between seroprevalence to C. pneumoniae and carotid atherosclerosis as measured by carotid IMT.     

Increased frequency of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in patients with asthma

The worldwide increase in asthma incidences and the impact of the disease on public health care have led to new investigations of the cause of the disease. Besides well-defined environmental causes, accumulating evidence suggests that respiratory tract infections play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Among these microorganisms Chlamydia pneumoniae is an intracellular pathogen causing persistent infection. Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been discussed as possibly inducing the development of asthma. This study was designed to investigate the presence of C. pneumoniae-specific IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies in serum samples of 33 adults with a clinical history of asthma, positive methacholine test, and reduced FEV(1). Patients with asthma were compared with age-, sex-, and locality-matched control subjects (n = 33). We observed no acute infection either in patients with asthma or in control subjects, but 63% of all investigated individuals had signs of past infection. Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific IgA was detected in 52% of the patients with asthma and in 15% of the healthy control subjects (p < 0.01). Serological evidence of chronic infection with C. pneumoniae (high IgG [> pr = 1:512] and high IgA [> or = 1:40]) was more frequent in patients with asthma (18.2%) compared with control subjects (3.0%) (p < 0.01). Our results provide further evidence that chronic infection with C. pneumoniae is linked to asthma.