Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in buffy-coat samples of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Recent studies have suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is a risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm. This study explores the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in buffy-coat samples of control subjects and of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. The seroepidemiological association between abdominal aortic aneurysm and Chlamydia pneumoniae was also investigated. Buffy-coat samples and serum specimens were obtained from 88 patients and 88 control subjects. Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in buffy-coat samples and measurement of IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae in serum specimens were performed by polymerase chain reaction and microimmunofluorescence, respectively. Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA was detected in buffy-coat samples of 18 (20%) patients and 8 (9%) control subjects (adjusted odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1-8.5). IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae were detected in 85 (97%) patients and 71 (81%) control subjects (adjusted odds ratio 7.2, 95% confidence interval 1.7-31). The results show an association between abdominal aortic aneurysm and either the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in buffy-coat samples or IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae. These findings support the hypothesis that previous infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae might be a risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Maraha
B
B
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands. bmarah@elisabeth.nl
den Heijer
M
M
Wullink
M
M
van der Zee
A
A
Bergmans
A
A
Verbakel
H
H
Kerver
M
M
Graafsma
S
S
Kranendonk
S
S
Peeters
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G