Research Article Details

Article ID: A48343
PMID: 15986871
Source: Dig Dis Sci
Title: High rate of seropositivity of Chlamydia pneumoniae IgA in male patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate if there was any relationship between nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and the rate of Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity in a male population. Fifteen men with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and 20 healthy men were enrolled in the study. The seropositivity rate of Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin A in the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and control groups was 53.3 and 5%, respectively. The rate of Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin A positivity was significantly higher in the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis group than the controls (P = 0.002), while such a difference did not occur for Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin G positivity (P > 0.05). There is an association between nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and persistent Chlamydia pneumoniae infection as a probable causative or triggering agent. These findings suggest that further studies are necessary to clarify this association.
DOI: 10.1007/s10620-005-2721-7