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[Association between chlamydial infection and coronary artery disease]
K Shimada1, H Mokuno, Y Watanabe
1Department of Cardiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo.
Insights
Chlamydia pneumoniae infection may be linked to coronary atherosclerosis in Japanese individuals. This study found higher antibody levels in patients with coronary artery disease, suggesting a potential association.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Context:
- Epidemiological studies suggest a link between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary atherosclerosis.
- The relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae and coronary atherosclerosis is less understood in the Japanese population.
Purpose:
- To investigate the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary atherosclerosis in a Japanese cohort.
- To measure serum IgA and IgG antibodies to Chlamydia-specific lipopolysaccharide in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
Summary:
- Serum IgA and IgG antibodies to Chlamydia-specific lipopolysaccharide were measured in 152 patients (123 with coronary artery disease [CAD] and 29 controls).
- Prevalence of either IgA or IgG antibodies was significantly higher in the CAD group (59%) compared to controls (38%).
- IgG antibody index was significantly higher in the CAD group, suggesting a link between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary atherosclerosis in this population.
Impact:
- Findings suggest a potential association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and the development of coronary atherosclerosis in the Japanese population.
- This research contributes to understanding the role of infectious agents in cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
Recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary atherosclerosis. However, the relationship is less clear in the Japanese population. Serum IgA and IgG antibodies to Chlamydia-specific lipopolysaccharide were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 152 consecutive patients(112 males, 40 females, mean age 57 years)who underwent coronary angiography. Patients(n = 123)with coronary artery disease(CAD)were defined as having more than 50% diameter stenosis in at least one major coronary artery. The control group(n = 29) had normal coronary angiograms. In the CAD group, there was a high tendency of prevalence of IgA(20% vs 7%, p = 0.08)and IgG(54% vs 34%, p = 0.052). Prevalence of either IgA or IgG was significantly higher (59% vs 38%, p = 0.045) compared with the control group. Although the index of IgA antibody was not significantly different between the CAD and control groups(median 0.52 vs 0.36, p = 0.19), the index of IgG antibody was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the control group(median 1.29 vs 0.82, p = 0.026). The odds ratios for CAD were 3.4[95% confidence interval(CI)0.6-18.7]for the prevalence of IgA, 2.3(95% CI 0.9-5.2)for the prevalence of IgG, and 2.3(95% CI 1.0-5.2)for the prevalence of either IgA or IgG. Patients with CAD tended to have high prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia spp, and these findings suggest an association between chlamydial infection and coronary atherosclerosis in the Japanese population.