Chlamydia pneumoniae in central retinal artery occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
There is increasing evidence that the common respiratory human pathogen Chlamydia pneumoniae has a causative role in atherosclerosis. We investigated the association of this pathogen with acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO).


METHODS
Sera of 14 consecutive patients with CRAO and of 14 age- and sex-matched control subjects were examined. Antibodies against chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins of C. pneumoniae were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
In the CRAO group, seven patients (50%) were found to be IgA positive, 12 (86%) were IgG positive and one (7%) was IgM positive for chlamydial LPS antibodies. In the control group 36%, 79% and 14% were IgA, IgG and IgM positive, respectively. The results showed no significant difference between the groups. In the CRAO group, IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies to C. pneumoniae were found in 43%, 79% and 0% of subjects, respectively. These findings did not differ significantly from those pertaining to matched controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These data do not support an association between acute CRAO and current C. pneumoniae infection.
Vécsei
Pia V
PV
Department of Opthalmology, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria. veronika.vecsei@akh-wien.ac.at
Kircher
Karl
K
Reitner
Andreas
A
Khanakah
Gelas
G
Stanek
Gerold
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides