Smoking, season, and detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in clinically stable COPD patients.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence and role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unclear, and molecular methods of detection may help clarify this relationship.


METHODS
Consecutive clinically stable patients with smoking-related COPD attending a tertiary care outpatient clinic were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 100 patients, and induced sputum was obtained in 62 patients. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in blood or sputum by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
Patients had mean age (standard deviation) of 65.8 (10.7) years, mean forced expiratory volume in one second (SD) of 1.34 (0.61) L, and 61 (61.0%) were male. C. pneumoniae nucleic acids were detected in 27 (27.0%) patients. Among 62 patients with both blood and sputum available, blood specimens were superior to induced sputum for detection of C. pneumoniae DNA (21 versus 7 detected, P=0.003). Current smoking (odds ratio [OR]=2.6, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.1, 6.6, P=0.04), season (November to April) (OR=3.6, 95% CI: 1.4, 9.2, P=0.007), and chronic sputum production (OR=6.4, 95% CI: 1.8, 23.2, P=0.005) were associated with detection of C. pneumoniae DNA.


CONCLUSIONS
C. pneumoniae DNA prevalence was higher among current smokers, and during winter/spring months. Prospective molecular studies are needed to examine the role of C. pneumoniae detection in COPD disease symptoms and progression.
Smieja
Marek
M
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, St. Joseph's Healthcare and McMaster University, Hamilton ON Canada. smiejam@mcmaster.ca
Leigh
Richard
R
Petrich
Astrid
A
Chong
Sylvia
S
Kamada
Dennis
D
Hargreave
Frederick E
FE
Goldsmith
Charles H
CH
Chernesky
Max
M
Mahony
James B
JB
D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000382:microbiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D009538:Nicotine