Serology of chlamydia in relation to asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
Antibodies to the 3 strains of chlamydia were measured in the sera of 197 subjects; 122 with asthma-related symptoms and 75 from the general population. The subjects underwent a structured interview, spirometry, a methacholine provocation test and skin-prick tests. For chlamydia antibodies, IgG titer values of > or = 1:512 and/or IgM > or = 1:16 were regarded as evidence of a current or recent infection while IgG levels < 1:512 and > 1:32 were regarded as indicative of a previous infection. For Chlamydia pneumoniae, a relationship was found between current or recent infection and wheezing (odds ratio (OR) 6.0, confidence intervals (CI) 1.3-28) and also between IgA antibodies and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) (OR 3.3, CI 1.3-8.3). For Chlamydia trachomatis, serological signs of a previous infection were found significantly more often in subjects who reported having had asthma at some time: (OR 3.2, CI 1.4-7.1), asthma during the last year (OR 3.2, CI 1.4-7.1), wheezing during the last year (OR 4.2, CI 1.6-6.6) and in those who had BHR (OR 2.7, CI 1.2-6.1). We conclude that a relationship may exist between Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections and asthma-related symptoms and BHR.
Bjornsson
E
E
Departments of Lung Medicine and Asthma Research Centre, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Hjelm
E
E
Janson
C
C
Fridell
E
E
Boman
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000209:etiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial