The association between serological markers for Chlamydophila pneumoniae and the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND

To investigate the association between serological markers for Chlamydophila pneumoniae (Cpn) and the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in a population-based case-control study.

METHODS

A screening for AAA among 65-75-year-old men and women was performed in a population with high prevalence of disease. Most of the subjects had undergone previous testing at the age of 60, including blood sampling. A total of 42 patients with AAA were compared with 100 age- and gender-matched controls with normal aortas. Cpn immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies present in plasma samples obtained at the time of screening (current) and in the past 5-15 (mean, 12) years (historical) were analyzed. Cpn antibody titers (<1/64, 1/64, 1/264, and 1/1024) were analyzed using the microimmunofluorescence technique.

RESULTS

No differences in current Cpn immunoglobulin A and IgG antibodies titers (p = 0.111 and 0.659), historical titers (p = 0.449 and 0.228), or titer change (delta) (p = 0.794 and 0.172) were observed between patients with AAA and controls. In all, 82% of the patients with AAA had a current Cpn IgG titer of 1/1024 as compared with the 70% of the control group. All 11 patients who had an aortic diameter of >40 mm reported having high current Cpn IgG titers. The fact that such a large proportion of the healthy population demonstrated an immune response against Cpn made it difficult to demonstrate possible effects of Cpn infection on AAA formation in a case-control study.

CONCLUSION

No significant associations were found between AAA detected by screening and Cpn antibody titer levels at the time of screening or during past screening at the age of 60.