Aim: To assess the effect of systemic endotoxinemia and LPS-induced immune response on severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
Materials and methods: Clinico-immunological follow-up of 60 patients with CAP of different severity was conducted. LPS was quantitatively measured by ENDOSAFE ENDOCHROME (0.015-0.12 EU/ml), LBP--by Hbt Human LBP ELISA (min 1 ng/ml), IgG to core region of LPS--by Hbt EndoCAb ELISA (min 0.125 MU/ml) ("HyCult biotechnology", Netherlands).
Results: Level of LPS in blood was not increased, whereas there was increase of antiendotoxin proteins in patients with more severe CAP with Gram-negative or mixed bacterial flora identified. Correlation between levels of LBP, IgG to core-region of LPS, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-4 and immune response abnormalities during severe forms of disease was demonstrated.
Conclusion: State of antiendotoxin immunity is an etiologic marker of CAP and its severity.