Legionella pneumophila antibodies in dialysed uraemic patients

ABSTRACT

64 patients with chronic renal failure under treatment with maintenance hemodialysis were studied clinically for 3 months, with stress on manifestations suggestive of Legionellosis. Sera were monthly examined by ELISA and hemagglutination tests for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. 37 patients [57.8%] showed IgG and/or IgM antibodies; 5 IgG, 28 IgM and 4 both IgG and IgM antibodies. The high prevalence could be attributed mainly to the decreased host defenses of these patients, and presence of water- storage tanks in hemodialysis units may be a contributing factor. No correlation was found between the clinical and the laboratory findings. This may be explained by the persistent elevation of IgG and IgM antibodies in sera for many years and by the presence of subclinical cases