title: Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Chlamydia pneumoniae, an intracellular bacterium, is associated with respiratory diseases, reinfectivity and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke. The risk of infection is higher and infections are a serious clinical problem in patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Although diabetes mellitus and hyperglycaemia are considered possible risk factors for various types of aetiological agents, the epidemiological evidence concerning C. pneumoniae infection is scanty. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, an indicator of a hyperglycaemic state, on C. pneumoniae infection and disease chronicity; in addition we compared the duration of diabetes with the occurrence of C. pneumoniae infection. C. pneumoniae blood real time PCR and serology (IgG, IgA and IgM) assays by an ELISA method were performed. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in 46.5 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) = 35.1-57.9 %] of the patients with T1DM; this prevalence is higher (P<0.05) than in non-diabetic paediatric controls, 10.5 % (95 % CI = 3.6-17.4 %). IgG/IgA C. pneumoniae antibody positivity was significantly (P≤0.05) more common in patients in poor metabolic control (HbA1c >9 %) versus patients in good metabolic control (HbA1c <7 %), suggesting that the metabolic control of the disease is compromised in the patients with T1DM. In conclusion, adolescents with T1DM were more likely to show signs of infection with C. pneumoniae compared with healthy adolescents and the results suggest an increased risk of progressing from an acute C. pneumoniae infection to a chronic form.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paolillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Second University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iafusco
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Second University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prisco
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romano Carratelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M