An association between an antibody against Chlamydia pneumoniae and common carotid atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is an important pathogen for infections of the respiratory tract, and there are recently also a number of reports suggesting its relation with atherosclerosis. This study was performed to clarify the relation between C. pneumoniae infection and sclerotic lesions of the common carotid arteries.


METHODS
We evaluated sclerotic lesions of common carotid arteries by ultrasonography in 147 in-patients (mean age, 70 years; 95% confidence interval, 68-72) in the internal medicine ward, and studied the relation of the known risk factors for atherosclerosis including C. pneumoniae infection. An ultrasonograph and 7.5 MHz linear type B-mode probe were used by a specialist to evaluate sclerotic lesions of common carotid arteries. C. pneumoniae infection was determined by measuring anti-C. pneumoniae IgG specific antibody level (IgG index) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method with serum of fasting blood, which had been preserved at -70 degrees C.


RESULTS
IgG index (p=0.0263), from multiple regression analysis using various risk factors as explanatory variables, was a significant independent contributing factor (R2=0.3465, p<0.0001) along with known risk factors such as male (p=0.0289), age (p=0.0007), Brinkman index (p=0.0067), hypertension (p=0.0443) and T-Chol (p=0.0220).


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed that the observations of an association between antibody against C. pneumoniae and common carotid atherosclerosis in Western nations is also present in Japan. Our results suggests that C. pneumoniae infection is also an important risk factor for common carotid atherosclerosis.
Kawamoto
R
R
Department of Internal Medicine, Nomura Municipal Hospital, Ehime.
Doi
T
T
Tokunaga
H
H
Konishi
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial