Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin E antibody levels in patients with asthma compared with non-asthma
Tamar A. Smith-Norowitz,
Jeffrey Loeffler,
Yvonne Huang,
Elliot Klein,
Yitzchok M. Norowitz,
Margaret R. Hammerschlag,
Rauno Joks,
Stephan Kohlhoff
Affiliations
Tamar A. Smith-Norowitz
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA; Corresponding author.
Jeffrey Loeffler
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
Yvonne Huang
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
Elliot Klein
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
Yitzchok M. Norowitz
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
Margaret R. Hammerschlag
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
Rauno Joks
Department of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
Stephan Kohlhoff
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
Chlamydia pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes respiratory infection in adults and children. There is evidence for an association between atypical bacterial pathogens and asthma pathogenesis. We sought to determine whether past C. pneumoniae infection triggers C. pneumoniae- IgE antibodies (Abs) in asthmatics and non-asthmatics, who had detectable IgG titers. C. pneumoniae IgE Abs were quantified using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). C. pneumoniae IgE Ab levels were higher in asthmatics compared with non-asthmatics. There was no correlation found between total serum IgE levels and specific C. pneumoniae IgE Ab levels. C. pneumoniae infection may trigger IgE-specific responses in asthmatics.
