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Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and restenosis in patients with coronary heart disease

R Krausse1, J Leiendecker, G Herrmann

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University of Kiel, Brunswiker Str. 4, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. r.krausse@medmicrobio.uni-kiel.de

Infection
|June 6, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is not linked to restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Further research is needed to determine if specific antibody tests or PCR detection of C. pneumoniae are reliable diagnostic markers.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) and restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) pose significant clinical challenges.
  • The potential role of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in the development of post-PTCA restenosis remains an area of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and the development of restenosis in patients undergoing PTCA.
  • To evaluate the diagnostic utility of serological tests and oropharyngeal specimen analysis for C. pneumoniae in restenosis patients.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 67 patients who underwent PTCA and follow-up angiography were studied.
  • Sera were tested for anti-chlamydial antibodies using ELISA and microimmunofluorescence test (MIFT).
  • Oropharyngeal specimens were analyzed for C. pneumoniae using immunofluorescence test (IFT) and PCR; anamnestic data and a control group (n=180) were also included.

Main Results:

  • Restenosis was observed in 31 of 67 patients; no significant correlation was found between serological findings and restenosis.
  • A higher positive rate, particularly for IgA antibodies, was noted in the restenosis group via MIFT.
  • C. pneumoniae was detected in oropharyngeal specimens by PCR/IFT in 20.8% of restenosis patients versus 16.0% of non-restenosis patients; PCR identified more positive cases.

Conclusions:

  • No evidence supports C. pneumoniae serology as a risk factor for restenosis development after PTCA.
  • The reliability of species-specific serological tests (especially IgA) and PCR detection of C. pneumoniae in oropharyngeal specimens as diagnostic markers for restenosis requires further evaluation.
Abstract

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