Original Article
Secretory IgA as a diagnostic tool for Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory colonization

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcf.2012.07.001Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Abstract

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa sinusitis may be the focus for intermittent lung colonization in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The sinusitis may induce elevated IgA levels in nasal secretion and saliva against P. aeruginosa.

Methods

120 CF patients chronically infected, intermittently colonized or without P. aeruginosa in the lungs participated in this cross-sectional study. IgA and IgG against P. aeruginosa sonicate and alginate were measured in nasal secretions, saliva, and in serum by ELISA.

Results

The intermittently colonized patients had significantly higher IgA levels in nasal secretions and saliva than those without P. aeruginosa in the lungs, indicating that P. aeruginosa sinusitis may precede intermittent colonization and chronic infection of the lungs.

Conclusions

Specific IgA against P. aeruginosa in nasal secretions and saliva can contribute to differentiation between patients chronically infected, intermittently colonized, and without P. aeruginosa in the lungs. The diagnostic value of the IgA ELISA awaits a prospective study.

Keywords

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Cystic fibrosis
Colonization
IgA antibodies
Diagnosis
Sinusitis

Cited by (0)