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Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 1997

L. VON HERTZEN ,
H. ALAKÄRPPÄ ,
R. KOSKINEN ,
K. LIIPPO ,
H.-M. SURCEL ,
M. LEINONEN  and
P. SAIKKU
L. VON HERTZEN
Affiliation:
National Public Health Institute, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland
H. ALAKÄRPPÄ
Affiliation:
National Public Health Institute, FIN-90101 Oulu, Finland
R. KOSKINEN
Affiliation:
Laakso Hospital, Outpatient Clinic, FIN-02500 Helsinki, Finland
K. LIIPPO
Affiliation:
Turku University Central Hospital, Department of Diseases of the Chest, FIN-21540 Preitilä, Finland
H.-M. SURCEL
Affiliation:
National Public Health Institute, FIN-90101 Oulu, Finland
M. LEINONEN
Affiliation:
National Public Health Institute, FIN-90101 Oulu, Finland
P. SAIKKU
Affiliation:
National Public Health Institute, FIN-90101 Oulu, Finland
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Abstract

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The prevalence of chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection was assessed in 54 patients with established chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 41 of these with severe COPD (group I), 13 with mild to moderate COPD (group II), and in 23 patients with community-acquired pneumonia (controls, group III). Specific IgG and IgA antibody levels and circulating immune complexes (ICs) were measured in paired sera, and specific secretory IgA (sIgA) levels in sputum specimens. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was used for the detection of C. pneumoniae in sputum. According to our definite diagnosis criterion, 65% of the COPD patients showed evidence of suspected chronic C. pneumoniae infection and the prevalence was still higher (71%) in patients with severe disease. The occurrence of specific markers of infection was invariably highest in patients with severe COPD, next-highest in patients with mild to moderate COPD and lowest in pneumonia patients. The association between COPD and C. pneumoniae infection persisted after controlling for the potential confounding factors.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 118 , Issue 2 , April 1997 , pp. 155 - 164
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press