On The Trail Of IgAN Pathogens

On The Trail Of IgAN Pathogens

I am personally convinced and have made the focus of my own study of IgAN the role of infective pathogens, germs, that result in IgAN patients like me suffering from an over-excited immune system, especially our upper body thymus derived immune system. So it is a special delight to find papers of medical researchers on the same trail as me.

It’s even better when the papers are open and free to read like this one.  (The practice in science of keeping scientific papers behind toll or better said Troll walls is nothing short of blackmail.)

 

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 28;9(1):e81636. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081636. eCollection 2014.

Periodontal disease bacteria specific to tonsil in IgA nephropathy patients predicts the remission by the treatment.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Immunoglobulin (Ig)A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis in the world. Some bacteria were reported to be the candidate of the antigen or the pathogenesis of IgAN, but systematic analysis of bacterial flora in tonsil with IgAN has not been reported. Moreover, these bacteria specific to IgAN might be candidate for the indicator which can predict the remission of IgAN treated by the combination of tonsillectomy and steroid pulse.

METHODS AND FINDINGS:

We made a comprehensive analysis of tonsil flora in 68 IgAN patients and 28 control patients using Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis methods. We also analyzed the relationship between several bacteria specific to the IgAN and the prognosis of the IgAN. Treponema sp. were identified in 24% IgAN patients, while in 7% control patients (P = 0.062). Haemophilus segnis were detected in 53% IgAN patients, while in 25% control patients (P = 0.012). Campylobacter rectus were identified in 49% IgAN patients, while in 14% control patients (P = 0.002). Multiple Cox proportional-hazards model revealed that Treponema sp. or Campylobactor rectus are significant for the remission of proteinuria (Hazard ratio 2.35, p = 0.019). There was significant difference in remission rates between IgAN patients with Treponema sp. and those without the bacterium (p = 0.046), and in remission rates between IgAN patients with Campylobacter rectus and those without the bacterium (p = 0.037) by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Those bacteria are well known to be related with the periodontal disease. Periodontal bacteria has known to cause immune reaction and many diseases, and also might cause IgA nephropathy.

CONCLUSION:

This insight into IgAN might be useful for diagnosis of the IgAN patients and the decision of treatment of IgAN.

PMID:
24489644
[PubMed – in process]
PMCID:
PMC3904818

Free PMC Article