Autoimmune response to bacterial antigens in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and arterial hypertension

Abstract

Introduction. Most of the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and arterial hypertension (AH) have high risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). Today the attention of the scholars in many countries is drawn to the role of immune mechanisms in the development and progression of many diseases [1, 2]. Of great importance is to determine the role of specific immune response not only to the host tissues, but also to bacterial antigens, since they are able to make a direct damaging effect on the cells, resulting in the loss of their functional activity.The aim.We investigated whether remodeling of the left ventricle as a sign of CHF progression is associated with sensibilisation to bacterial antigens of Staphilococcus aureus (St. aureus), Streptococcus pneumoniae (Str. Pneumoniae) and Esherichia Coli (E. Coli).Conclusions. The study showed a strong relationship between sensibilisation to E. Coli and left ventricle remodeling of the heart as well as with progression of congestive heart failure in patients with COPD and AH. Thus, the consumptions discussed in literature about intestinal bacteria involvement into the heart failure progression and cardiac remodeling are being supported by obtained facts, and demand further profound investigations.