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Correlation of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with primary biliary cirrhosis

Hai-Ying Liu1, An-Mei Deng, Jian Zhang

  • 1Clinical Laboratory, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command of PLA, Guangzhou 510010, Guangdong Province, China. xiangliuhaiying@21cn.com

World Journal of Gastroenterology
|July 5, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection is not a cause of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, Cpn infection may contribute to elevated IgM levels observed in PBC patients.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic liver disease of autoimmune origin.
  • The role of infectious agents, such as Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), in the pathogenesis of PBC remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and primary biliary cirrhosis.
  • To determine if Cpn infection is a triggering or causative agent in PBC.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect Cpn IgG and IgM antibodies.
  • 41 PBC patients, 70 post-hepatitis cirrhosis patients, and 57 healthy controls were included.
  • Seroprevalence and antibody levels of Cpn were compared across groups.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher Cpn IgG levels and seroprevalence were found in PBC and post-hepatitis cirrhosis groups compared to healthy controls.
  • Elevated Cpn IgM seroprevalence was observed in PBC patients.
  • Cpn IgM, but not Cpn IgG, correlated with high IgM concentrations in PBC patients.

Conclusions:

  • Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is unlikely to be a causative agent of PBC.
  • Cpn infection may contribute to the elevated IgM levels commonly seen in PBC patients.
Abstract

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