PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - L Allegra
AU  - F Blasi
AU  - S Centanni
AU  - R Cosentini
AU  - F Denti
AU  - R Raccanelli
AU  - P Tarsia
AU  - V Valenti
TI  - Acute exacerbations of asthma in adults: role of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.94.07122165
DP  - 1994 Dec 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 2165--2168
VI  - 7
IP  - 12
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/7/12/2165.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/7/12/2165.full
SO  - Eur Respir J1994 Dec 01; 7
AB  - Respiratory infections precipitate wheezing in many asthmatic patients and may be involved in the aetiopathogenesis of asthma. Several studies have demonstrated that viral infections may provoke asthma. Bacterial infections seem to play a minor role. However, Chlamydia pneumoniae has been recently reported as a possible cause of asthma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of C. pneumoniae infection in acute exacerbations of asthma in adults. Seventy four adult out-patients with a diagnosis of acute exacerbation of asthma were studied. Acute and convalescent (> or = 3 weeks) serological determination of antibodies to cytomegalovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza A and B, parainfluenza 1 and 3, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila were performed by means of immunofluorescence tests. C. pneumoniae specific antibodies were detected by two microimmunofluorescence tests using a specific antigen (TW-183) and a kit with three chlamydial antigens. Pharyngeal swab specimens were also obtained for C. pneumoniae identification. Samples for bacterial culture were obtained in patients with productive cough (15 out of 74 patients). Fifteen patients (20%) presented seroconversion to at least one of the studied pathogens. Seven were found to be infected by virus, six by C. pneumoniae alone, and one by M. pneumoniae. One more patient showed seroconversion to C. pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)