title: High Seroprevalence of Bordetella pertussis in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Case-Control Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bordetella pertussis has been suggested to take part in the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between B. pertussis and COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, 90 patients with COPD and 90 age- and sex- matched control subjects were included. Serum samples were tested for anti-B. pertussis IgG and IgA by ELISA. A physician completed a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, habitual history and spirometric findings for each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 90 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 66 (51%) had mild, 31 (34.4%) had moderate, and 13 (14.4%) had severe disease. There was no significant association between B. pertussis IgA seropositivity and COPD. Serum levels of anti- B. pertussis IgG were significantly higher in patients with COPD than in the control subjects (P < 0.001). No association was observed between B. pertussis infection and severity of COPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that there is an association between B. pertussis infection and COPD. Further studies should be planned to investigate the potential pathogenic mechanisms underlying these associations.
authors: Brucellosis Research Center, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran,; Department of Infectious Diseases, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran.
authors: Seyyed Hamid
authors: SH
authors: Hashemi
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran.
authors: Ebrahim
authors: E
authors: Nadi
authors: Department of Immunology, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran.
authors: Mehrdad
authors: M
authors: Hajilooi
authors: Brucellosis Research Center, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran.
authors: Mohammad-Ali
authors: MA
authors: Seif-Rabiei
authors: Brucellosis Research Center, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran.
authors: Atefeh
authors: A
authors: Samaei
keywords: Bordetella pertussis; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Whooping Cough