High anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibody titer is associated with coronary artery disease and may predict post-coronary balloon angioplasty restenosis.
Recent studies have demonstrated that cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was found in atherosclerotic coronary arteries in restenotic lesions, and prior infection with CMV could be a strong independent risk factor for restenosis after coronary atherectomy. We studied the correlation between anti-CMV antibody titer and coronary artery disease. Sixty-five patients (50 men and 15 women) with coronary artery disease were enrolled prospectively. All had symptomatic coronary artery disease with an angiographic documentation of a de novo single coronary lesion. All underwent balloon coronary angioplasty and were followed for 12 months with a thallium perfusion scan 3 months after angioplasty. Patients who had recurrent chest pain and/or a positive thallium scan had another coronary angiography. Blood samples were taken before angiography and 1 and 3 months later. Patients with high anti-CMV titer > or = 1:800 had a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (p <0.001) than seropositive patients with a lower antibody titer (< or = 1:400); patients with high antibody titer (> or = 1:800) had a higher restenosis rate than seropositive patients with a low antibody titer (< or = 1:400) (p <0.05). High antibody titers against CMV (IgG) may be a strong marker for coronary artery disease, and might predict post-coronary angioplasty restenosis. These findings support the infectious theory of atherosclerosis (especially with prior CMV infection), and also suggest that a chronic immunologic response has a role in atherosclerosis and restenosis.
Blum
A
A
Cardiology Department, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Israel.
Giladi
M
M
Weinberg
M
M
Kaplan
G
G
Pasternack
H
H
Laniado
S
S
Miller
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G