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[Chlamydia pneumoniae and cerebrovascular disease]
J Linares-Palomino1, J Gutiérrez, C López-Espada
1Servicio de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular, Hospital Clínico Universitario San Cecilio de Granada, Av. Dr. Oloriz, 16. E-18012 Granada. jlinaresp@seacv.org
Insights
Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is strongly linked to carotid atherosclerosis. This study found higher C. pneumoniae seroprevalence and DNA presence in patients with carotid artery disease compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Microbiology
Context:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae is a suspected contributor to atherosclerosis.
- Previous studies suggest a link between C. pneumoniae and carotid artery disease.
- This study investigates the seroprevalence and bacterial presence in carotid atherosclerosis.
Purpose:
- To determine the seroprevalence of chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.
- To detect the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA in arterial biopsies from cases and controls.
- To explore the association between C. pneumoniae infection and carotid atherosclerosis.
Summary:
- A case-control study compared 26 carotid surgery patients (cases) with 50 controls.
- Higher IgG antibodies against C. pneumoniae (MIF and ELISA) and C. pneumoniae DNA (PCR) were found in cases.
- No association was observed between fibrinogen levels and the groups.
Impact:
- Provides strong evidence for the association between chronic C. pneumoniae infection and carotid atherosclerosis.
- Highlights C. pneumoniae as a potential etiological agent in the development of carotid artery disease.
- Suggests implications for understanding and potentially treating atherosclerosis.
Introduction:
Chlamydia pneumoniae has relationship with artherosclerosis of carotid artery by seroepidemiological studies and by demonstration of the bacteria in atheromata. We made a case-control study to know the seroprevalence of chronic infection of C. pneumoniae and the presence of the bacteria in arterial biopsies.
Patients And Methods:
The cases group was constituted by 26 patients undergoing carotid surgery. In the control group there were 50 patients without atherosclerosis and who underwent removal of their varicose veins. There were matched for sex, age and smoking. We obtained serum samples to determinate IgG antibodies against MOMP by MIF and ELISA. In the cases group, we got the arterial biopsies from carotid artery, and from pudendal arteries in control group. We determined chlamydial DNA on the biopsies by heminested PCR (primers: HL-1, HM-1, HR-1). We measured fibrinogen in both groups.
Results:
By MIF technique, the seroprevalence was (IgG > 1:32) 69.23% cases versus 24% controls (OR: 7.12, CI: 2.47-20.48). The ELISA showed 76.92% of seropositivity in cases versus 16% in controls (OR: 17.5, CI: 95%: 5.35-57.23). The DNA of C. pneumoniae was found in 18 cases and 6 controls, (p < 0.0001, chi 2). We did not find any relationship between fibrinogen levels and groups.
Conclusion:
We think that there is a relationship between chronic infection with C. pneumoniae and carotid atherosclerosis.