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Published on: April 7, 2015

Association of circulating Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review

Marek Smieja1, James Mahony, Astrid Petrich

  • 1Dept of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton ON, Canada. smiejam@mcmaster.ca

BMC Infectious Diseases
|October 3, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA detection in blood cells was linked to cardiovascular disease in initial studies. Further research is needed to confirm this association after accounting for risk factors like smoking.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Chlamydia pneumoniae has been found in human atheroma.
  • Antibody presence does not predict cardiovascular events.
  • The role of C. pneumoniae DNA in cardiovascular disease requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review studies on C. pneumoniae DNA detection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
  • To determine if C. pneumoniae DNA in PBMC is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of studies detecting C. pneumoniae DNA in PBMC via PCR.
  • Meta-regression analysis to identify factors associated with prevalence.
  • Pooled analysis of case-control studies comparing CVD patients and controls.

Main Results:

  • Eighteen studies were identified; nine compared CVD patients to controls.
  • Prevalence of C. pneumoniae DNA was 14.3% in CVD patients vs. 8.5% in controls (OR 2.03).
  • Prevalence was associated with smoking, season, and age; high prevalence seen in various diseases and blood donors.

Conclusions:

  • C. pneumoniae DNA detection in PBMC is associated with CVD in unadjusted studies.
  • Confounding factors like smoking and season need adjustment.
  • Standardization of laboratory methods is crucial for confirmation.
Abstract

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