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Chlamydia and atherosclerotic coronary arterial disease in Turkey
M Ozsan1, C Güngor, M Kahraman
1Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Turkey. ozsan@dialup.ankara.edu.tr
Insights
Chlamydia pneumoniae was detected in 35.5% of Turkish coronary artery lesions. This bacterial presence did not correlate with traditional atherosclerotic risk factors or disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae, a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium, is implicated in the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Understanding the prevalence of C. pneumoniae in cardiovascular lesions is crucial for assessing its role in CAD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of Chlamydia pneumoniae in coronary artery lesions of a Turkish population.
- To investigate the association between C. pneumoniae presence and traditional atherosclerotic risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Atherosclerotic material was collected from 31 patients via directional atherectomy and surgical endarterectomy.
- Samples were analyzed for C. pneumoniae using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Main Results:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae positivity was 32.3% by IIFA and 29.0% by PCR.
- Combined analysis of both methods revealed an overall positivity rate of 35.5% (11/31).
Conclusions:
- No statistically significant association was found between C. pneumoniae presence and age or classical risk factors (diabetes, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, family history).
- The study did not establish a significant link between C. pneumoniae and the severity or clinical presentation of coronary artery disease.
Objective:
Chlamydia pneumoniae, which is a Gram(-) intracellular bacteria, besides being a respiratory pathogen, is thought to play an active role in the progress of acute myocardial infarction and chronic coronary artery disease. In this study we aim to determine the frequency of C. pneumoniae in coronary artery lesions of Turkish people.
Methods And Results:
The atherosclerotic material taken from 8 cases by directional atherectomy and from 23 cases by surgical endarterectomy and examined by indirect immunofluorescence (IIFA) test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). C. pneumoniae positivity was 32.3% (10/31) by IIFA and 29.0% (9/31) by PCR while the evaluation of the methods together yield a positivity of 35.5% (11/31).
Conclusions:
A statistically significant difference could not be established between C. pneumoniae positive and negative groups according to age and the classical atherosclerotic risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, family history; besides, a statistically significant difference could not be found between the presence of C. pneumoniae and the severity and clinical picture of coronary artery disease.