INCREASED PREVALENCE OF IGA-CHLAMYDIA ANTIBODIES IN NIDDM PATIENTS

Chlamydia trachomatis oculogenital infection is a common disease in we stern societies. Despite the fact that diabetes is accompanied by incr eased risk for infections, no data on chlamydial infections in the non -insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patient exist. In our study Chlamy dia antibodies were determined using an immunoperoxidase reaction in N IDDM patients (n = 79) and ina local nondiabetic control population (n = 125) which was randomly invited to a medical control visit without any preselection criteria. In total, 46% of diabetics and 55% of contr ols were IgG-Chlamydia antibody positive (ns). Using IgA-Chlamydia ant ibodies to define 'seroactive' chlamydial infection, 22% of NIDDM pati ents and 14% of controls were positive. Thus seroactive chlamydial inf ection of all patients with proven contact to Chlamydia (IgG-Chlamydia antibody positive) was 47% in diabetics versus 25% in controls, respe ctively (P < 0.05). Forming subgroups, significance was reached in fem ales (52% vs. 32%, P < 0.05) only, but a similar trend was observed in males (36% vs. 21%, ns). Seroactivity was neither correlated with HbA (1c) nor with nephelometrically determined total serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA). Additionally we observed significantly elevated total IgM and IgA-levels in NIDDM patients whereas IgG-levels were comparable i n both groups. In conclusion, seroactive chlamydial infections in subj ects with proven contact to Chlamydia are more frequent in NIDDM patie nts than in nondiabetic controls. Additionally, higher IgM and IgA ser um levels might indicate a higher susceptibility to active surface inf ections in NIDDM.