Positive Associations of Chlamydia pneumoniae Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin E Antibodies and Asthma in Iraqi Children

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae is an intracellular bacterium that causes respiratory tract infection. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between past C. pneumoniae infection and asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the presence of C. pneumoniae Immunoglobulin (IgG) and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies by the commercial quantitative Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits in 87 asthmatic children and 87 controls. RESULTS: C. pneumoniae IgG antibody was significantly increased in patients (24.89 ± 16.65) as compared with controls (10.93 ± 6.75) P < 0.001. Further, the C. pneumoniae IgE antibody was significantly increased in patients (8.037 ± 4.645) compared to controls (6.52 ± 3.062) P = 0.024. There was a highly significant positive correlation between IgG and IgE levels (P < 0.001* r = 0.466). There was no significant difference in C. pneumoniae IgG and C. pneumoniae IgE levels among asthma severity groups (P = 0.507 and P = 0.539, respectively) and asthma-controlled groups (P = 0.858 and P = 0.517, respectively). CONCLUSION: Compared to a control group, children with asthma have a significantly higher rate of C. pneumoniae IgG and C. pneumoniae IgE levels. In asthmatic patients, there is a positive correlation between C. pneumoniae IgG and C. pneumonia IgE. Controversially, C. pneumoniae infection has no role in asthma severity and control.