Chlamydia pneumoniae and myocarditis

Sera from 20 male patients with a diagnosis suggestive of myocarditis, perimyocarditis or pericarditis were found significantly more often to have specific IgA antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae than sera from healthy blood donors of the same age and from the same time period. A less pronounced difference in IgG titres was found between patients and blood donors, and IgM antibodies were found only in one patient. A striking variation over time in the prevalence of specific antibodies to C. pneumoniae was seen in consecutive male blood donors over a 5-year observation period. The findings were discussed and it was concluded that C. pneumoniae may be associated with inflammatory heart disease.