Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity and the risk of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae are associated with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
The study cohort consisted of 71 consecutive patients with NAION and 71 controls matched for age and gender.


METHODS
Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titers to Chlamydia pneumoniae.


RESULTS
Patients with NAION had significantly higher IgG antibody titers to C. pneumoniae compared with control subjects (IgG titer > or =1:128: 29 patients versus 15 controls, P = 0.017). The odds ratio for patients with an IgG titer > or =1:128 was 2.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-5.5). Adjustment for arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and myocardial infarction resulted in an odds ratio of 3.48 (95% CI, 1.3-9.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that elevated titers of IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae are associated with NAION.
Weger
Martin
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Karl-Franzens University, Auenbruggerplatz 4, 8036 Graz, Austria. martin.weger@kfunigraz.ac.at
Haas
Anton
A
Stanger
Olaf
O
El-Shabrawi
Yosuf
Y
Temmel
Werner
W
Maier
Richard
R
Berghold
Andrea
A
Haller-Schober
Eva-Maria
EM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G