Immune-response against Streptococcus pyogenes in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm - A population-based case-control study
Author
Summary, in English
Background: In a population -based case-control study the association between antibodies to Streptococcus pyogenes antigens and the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was analysed. Patients and methods: Forty-two patients with screening-detected AAA were compared to 100 age- and sex matched controls with normal aortas. Antibodies against three recently characterized cell wall-attached proteins of S. pyogenes (SclA, ScIB and GRAB) were analysed in plasma samples obtained at screening (current), and in samples obtained from a study conducted 12 years previously on the same population (historical). Results: Historical antibody levels against the S. pyogenes antigen GRAB were significantly higher in AAA patients compared with controls (0.25 vs 0.17, p = 0.021). A similar trend was observed in current GRAB antibody levels (0.23 vs 0. 17, p = 0.072). GRAB-antibody levels at age 60 years retained the association with AAA in a logistic regression model after adjustment for a history of atherosclerosis (OR 20.2, p = 0.022), current smoking (OR 21.4, p = 0.025) and family history of AAA (OR 12.9, p = 0.053). Current and historical antibody levels against ScIA and SclB in AAA patients were similar to those in controls. Conclusions: The results indicate that the immune response against S. pyogenes protein GRAB may be involved in the pathogenesis of AAA.
Department/s
Publishing year
2008
Language
English
Pages
143-149
Publication/Series
Vasa: European Journal of Vascular Medicine
Volume
37
Issue
2
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Verlag Hans Huber
Topic
- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
Keywords
- GRAB
- immune-response
- abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Streptococcus pyogenes
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0301-1526