title: [The relation between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and abdominal aortic aneurysm].
abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of C. pneumoniae infection in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients by measuring C. pneumoniae specific serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels and the activation of their immune system by measuring the concentrations of IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in patients' serum. Microimmunofluorescence method was applied to evaluate the level of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG, IgA and IgM. The concentrations of cytokines were evaluated using ELISA method. Serologic markers of persistent C. pneumoniae infection have been detected in 25/28 (89.3%) patients and in 6/20 (30%) healthy controls. In 40% (10/25) of patients with serologic markers of persistent C. pneumoniae infection high titers of specific IgG and IgA indicated active infection--reinfection or exacerbation of chronic infection. Mean concentrations of IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha indicated lack of protection against intracellular pathogens. Since all patients in this group were diagnosed as having symptomatic AAA, we suggest that active infection can exacerbate inflammation in the AAA wall and accelerate progression of the disease. In our opinion patients with active C. pneumoniae infection may be candidates to the antimicrobial treatment.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Chirurgii Naczyń Akademii Medycznej w Lublinje.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niedźwiadek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slepko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozioł-Montewka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michalak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015200:Fluoroimmunoassay; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma