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Published on: April 7, 2015

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is associated with coronary artery disease but not implicated in inducing plaque

Silvio Romano1, Maria Penco, Simona Fratini

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, "La Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy. silvio.romano@uniroma1.it

International Journal of Cardiology
|May 26, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is linked to coronary artery disease. However, this study found no evidence that C. pneumoniae triggers acute coronary events like unstable angina.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) has been associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection.
  • The role of C. pneumoniae in triggering acute coronary events remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between C. pneumoniae infection and acute coronary events.
  • To compare C. pneumoniae serology in patients with unstable angina, stable exertional angina, and controls.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed IgM, IgG, and IgA anti-C. pneumoniae titers using microimmunofluorescence in 64 unstable angina patients, 56 stable angina patients, and 74 controls.
  • Defined positive titers as >=1:16 for IgM and IgA, and >=1:32 for IgG.
  • Evaluated signs of acute, reinfection, and chronic C. pneumoniae infections.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in C. pneumoniae IgM, IgG, or IgA titers between unstable and stable angina groups.
  • Significantly higher IgG and IgA titers in both angina groups compared to controls (p<0.05).
  • Acute C. pneumoniae infection or reinfection was not more prevalent in angina patients than controls.

Conclusions:

  • C. pneumoniae infection is associated with coronary artery disease.
  • No serological difference was found between unstable and stable angina patients.
  • C. pneumoniae does not appear to be implicated in triggering acute coronary events.
Abstract

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