title: Persistently elevated IgA antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that Mycoplasma pneumoniae may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis, but to date this association is still a matter of debate due to conflicting findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have investigated the levels of specific IgA antibodies to M. pneumoniae in 91 patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis using a commercial kit (SeroMP™ IgA; Savyon Diagnostics, Israel; cut-off value: 20 binding units; BU). All patients underwent surgery for ICA stenosis. From each patient, the first serum sample (S1) was taken before surgery, and the second after an interval of 6 month (S2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The S1 seroprevalence was 18.7% (17/91). Thirteen of the 17 patients with positive S1 levels also remained positive after six month, whereby no decrease of IgA level was seen (median S1 level: 34 BU, range: 22-65 BU; median S2 level: 37 BU, range: 22-58 BU). Specifically, six of the patients showed an increased level after 6 months, and six a decrease, with the level remaining constant in one patient. In contrast, only 3 of the 74 S1 negative patients became positive for anti-M. pneumoniae IgA between the taking of the first and the second serum specimen (p<0.01). None of the assessed demographic factors or risk factors for atherosclerosis was associated with IgA seropositivity, neither were the degree CAVK or the degree of stenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings cannot be explained throughout by the general seroprevalence, or by past respiratory tract infections with the pathogen, and therefore may suggest a role for M. pneumoniae in the development of atherosclerosis, since a chronic infection must be assumed.
authors.affiliation: Mödling, Austria.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daxböck
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Assadian
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watkins-Riedel
authors.forename: Ojan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Assadian