PMID- 11737672
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20020226
LR  - 20220408
IS  - 0905-6157 (Print)
IS  - 0905-6157 (Linking)
VI  - 12
IP  - 5
DP  - 2001 Oct
TI  - Bronchial Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, markers of allergic inflammation and 
      lung function in children.
PG  - 257-65
AB  - A relationship between respiratory Chlamydia pneumoniae infection (RCPI) and 
      bronchial asthma is under discussion. Our objective was to study the frequency of 
      RCPI and whether it is associated with markers of asthma in children with 
      recurrent or chronic bronchitis as well as pneumonia. One-hundred and forty-eight 
      children who underwent bronchoscopy were enrolled; 42 children with additional 
      respiratory infections were excluded. Therefore, 106 children were examined, 
      regarding a RCPI, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of tracheobronchial 
      aspirate, eosinophilic inflammation of respiratory mucosa (cytology, eosinophilic 
      cationic protein [ECP]), total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE for 
      six important allergens, as well as lung function tests if possible. There was a 
      RCPI in 55 of 106 children (51.9%); 25.4% of PCR positives (14/55) were weakly 
      positive (double cut-off), which was more prevalent in the 2-5-year age-group and 
      teenagers. Children with RCPI, inclusive of weak positives, showed a milder 
      eosinophilia of nasal mucosa than children without RCPI (5.58% vs. 9.35%, 
      p=0.039). Eosinophilia of > or =13% in nasal- and/or bronchial swab, as a marker 
      for respiratory allergy, was less frequent in patients with RCPI too (7.3% vs. 
      21.6%, p=0.035). There were no differences in ECP. Total IgE was lower in 
      PCR-positive children (101 vs. 179 IU/ml, p=0.032). Specific IgE with a 
      radioallergosorbent test (RAST) of at least class 3 (as a marker for a relevant 
      allergy), as well as any RAST above zero (to characterize early forms of 
      allergy), were both less frequent in the RCPI group. In contrast, weak positives 
      showed the highest rates of sensitization, surpassing RCPI negatives. In 
      lung-function tests, vital capacity was lower in RCPI patients (87.5% vs. 95.3%, 
      p=0.045); all parameters characterizing obstructive disturbance tended to be 
      higher. Weak positives had both the greatest reduction of vital capacity (75.3%) 
      and the most impaired obstructive parameters. All differences were accentuated in 
      children of 11-18 years of age. Hence, our results indicate that in the children 
      selected, a RCPI is common and not associated with allergic respiratory 
      inflammation. Weak positives, however, differ, having the highest rate of 
      allergic sensitization, reduction of lung volume, and obstructive disturbance. 
      This group might be important in clinically observed asthma after pneumonia 
      caused by C. pneumoniae. In these children, early diagnosis and treatment of a 
      RCPI is recommended.
FAU - Schmidt, S M
AU  - Schmidt SM
AD  - Department of Paediatrics, Children's and Youth Hospital, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt 
      University, Greifswald, Germany.
FAU - Muller, C E
AU  - Muller CE
FAU - Bruns, R
AU  - Bruns R
FAU - Wiersbitzky, S K
AU  - Wiersbitzky SK
LA  - eng
PT  - Comparative Study
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - England
TA  - Pediatr Allergy Immunol
JT  - Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society 
      of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
JID - 9106718
RN  - 0 (Biomarkers)
RN  - 0 (Blood Proteins)
RN  - 0 (Eosinophil Granule Proteins)
RN  - 37341-29-0 (Immunoglobulin E)
RN  - EC 3.1.- (Ribonucleases)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adolescent
MH  - Asthma/metabolism/*microbiology
MH  - Biomarkers/*analysis
MH  - Blood Proteins/analysis
MH  - Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry
MH  - Child
MH  - Child Welfare
MH  - Child, Preschool
MH  - Chlamydophila Infections/diagnosis
MH  - *Chlamydophila pneumoniae
MH  - Eosinophil Granule Proteins
MH  - Female
MH  - Forced Expiratory Volume/physiology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Immunoglobulin E/blood
MH  - Infant
MH  - Infant, Newborn
MH  - Male
MH  - Polymerase Chain Reaction
MH  - Pulmonary Eosinophilia/etiology/metabolism
MH  - Radioallergosorbent Test
MH  - Respiratory Function Tests
MH  - Respiratory Hypersensitivity/metabolism/microbiology
MH  - Respiratory Mucosa/metabolism
MH  - Respiratory Tract Infections/metabolism/microbiology
MH  - *Ribonucleases
EDAT- 2001/12/12 10:00
MHDA- 2002/02/28 10:01
CRDT- 2001/12/12 10:00
PHST- 2001/12/12 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2002/02/28 10:01 [medline]
PHST- 2001/12/12 10:00 [entrez]
AID - 042 [pii]
AID - 10.1034/j.1399-3038.2001.00042.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2001 Oct;12(5):257-65. doi: 
      10.1034/j.1399-3038.2001.00042.x.