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RESEARCH PRODUCT

FRI0194 Is There an Association Between Spondyloarthritis and Antibodies Towards Borrelia, Ehrlichia and Chlamydia Species?

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Background Several studies suggested that certain microorganisms might contribute to initiation and perpetuation of spondyloarthritis (SpA). Objectives To investigate IgG and IgM antibodies towards Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), Borrelia garinii (Bg), Borrelia afzelii (Ba), Ehrlichia spp. (Ehr), Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), and Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) in SpA patients, low back pain patients, and healthy subjects and to elucidate whether previous infections could play a role in the onset of SpA. Methods Data collection was based on persons aged 18-40 years referred with low back pain for ≥3 months. They were examined with MRI of the spine and sacroiliac joints, CRP, HLA-B27, and clinical SpA features were assessed according to ASAS classification criteria (1). Sera were collected from patients with SpA according to ASAS criteria (SpA group; n=100), persons with low back pain but with a positive MRI or positive HLA-B27 and one clinical SpA feature (suspected (susp.) SpA group; n=41), and low back pain patients having no SpA features (LBP group; n=82). These groups were compared with age and gender matched healthy controls (n=40). With ELISA-tests, levels of IgG and IgM antibodies towards Bb, Bg, Ba, Ehr, Ct, and Cp were investigated and compared between groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparing antibody levels between groups, and Spearman9s test with Bonferroni correction for correlation analysis between antibodies and characteristics such as age, gender, HLA-B27 status, CRP, recent onset back pain ( Results Levels of IgG and IgM antibodies towards Bb, Bg, Ba, and Ehr were significantly elevated in the SpA, susp. SpA, and LBP groups compared to healthy controls (p Conclusions Our results suggest that the elevated levels of antibodies towards Borrelia, Ehrlichia and Chlamydia species in patients with prolonged chronic low back pain are not related to SpA, and require other explanations. References Rudwaleit M et al., Ann Rheum Dis. 2009;68(6):777-83. Disclosure of Interest None declared