Serologic evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection as a long-term predictor of cardiovascular death in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death with a functioning graft in renal transplant recipients. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and evidence of chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection have been linked to cardiovascular disease and survival in patients with normal renal function and patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis. So far, no such data have been available in renal transplant recipients.

Comparison of eleven commercial tests for Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific immunoglobulin G in asymptomatic healthy individuals.

The seroprevalence of anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies is high in the adult population. Experience is required to perform a microimmunofluorescence test (MIF), the current "gold standard" for serological diagnosis, and the assay still lacks standardization. Partially automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), which are more standardized and for which the reading of results is less subjective, have been developed.