Variant mannose-binding lectin alleles are not associated with susceptibility to or outcome of invasive pneumococcal infection in randomly included patients.
Invasive pneumococcal disease is a serious infection that primarily affects very young children and elderly or immunocompromised individuals but also affects previously healthy people. Variant mannose-binding lectin (MBL) alleles are associated with recurrent infections and may be a risk factor for pneumococcal infections. To assess the influence of MBL genotypes on the course and outcome of invasive pneumococcal disease, clinical data for 141 adult patients were collected prospectively and their genotypes were determined. All patients included had positive blood cultures for Streptococcus pneumoniae. The distribution of variant MBL alleles related to low MBL serum concentrations was similar among the patients and healthy individuals, and MBL genotype was not associated with infection outcome. Thus, in a random adult population with invasive pneumococcal infection, MBL does not seem to play a role in the pathophysiology, in contrast to earlier observations in patients with other concomitant immune abnormalities.
Kronborg
Gitte
G
Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. gkronborg@dadlnet.dk
Weis
Nina
N
Madsen
Hans O
HO
Pedersen
Svend S
SS
Wejse
Christian
C
Nielsen
Henrik
H
Skinhøj
Peter
P
Garred
Peter
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D016470:Bacteremia; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D037222:Collectins; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D037222:Collectins; D037102:Lectins