Increased Frequency of Chlamydia pneumoniae Antibodies in Patients with Asthma

Abstract

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.

Legionella spp. in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: what is the evidence?

“…One of the most important is the low rate of false-positive results in the control group. The rate of 3% compares favourably to serological studies of Chlaymdia pneumoniae in COPD and asthma [15,16].…”

Increased frequency of detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in asthma

“…It is possible that the study design employing spouse pairs, among who close proximity might favour higher rates of transmission, may have actually underestimated the degree of increased frequency of detection in asthmatic subjects. Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of antibodies to C. pneumoniae in asthmatic compared to normal control subjects [11,[25][26][27], and one study has shown a relationship to disease severity [12]. These studies have not been able to differentiate acute from chronic infection, although several have hypothesised the presence of chronic C. pneumoniae infection.…”

Bronchial asthma and Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in children aged 4-8 years in Olomouc district

“…In another study 11 % asthmatic and 5 % control children found to have positive cultures for C. pneumoniae 3 . Although some results were controversial, several studies confirmed these findings 4,5,6 . Our study aimed to investigate the current situation in the seroprevalence of C. pneumoniae infection in Olomouc district in a group of atopic children with chronic cough and asthma compared with a control group of non-atopic children with non-specific symptoms, i.e., temperature above normal, abdominal pain, arthralgia, fatigue.…”