Biochemical and immunologic features of an outbreak of Legionnaires disease: comparative study between community-acquired pneumonias

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• 作者：Ma Teresa Agulló ; -Ortuñ ; o ; Ma Lucí ; a Garcí ; a-Mancebo ; Olga Montes-Ares and José ; A. Noguera-Velasco
• 关键词：Community-acquired pneumonia ; Legionnaires disease ; Immunoglobulin deficiencies ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Hyponatremia ; AST and LDH levels
• 刊名：Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
• 出版年：2006
• 出版时间：September 2006
• 年：2006
• 卷：56
• 期：1
• 页码：7-11
• 全文大小：124 K

文摘

Legionella pneumophila has been recognized as an important cause of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. This study evaluates the interrelationship between that patients group with Legionnaires disease (LD) and the possible factors that may predispose hosts to acquire this infection. Likewise, we search for preliminary biochemical and immunologic evidences that could help physicians to differentiate between LD and other pneumonias.

We analyzed biochemical parameters and immunoglobulin levels in 61 LD patients and a control group (n = 30) who were non-Legionella pneumonia diagnosed. We observed statistically significant differences in LD patients versus control group in serum sodium, albumin, γ-band, IgG levels, (P < .01) and for total proteins, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P < .05). Our study shows a trend between the presence of LD and immunoglobulin deficiencies in the group studied. Deficit in IgG or IgG plus IgM, during the exposure period, may predispose individuals to suffer legionellosis (P < .05). Overall, hypoalbuminemia, hyponatremia, and high AST and LDH levels can represent a useful prognostic marker in patients with severe pulmonary infection suspected to be legionellosis.