Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis: no way-out or long way? What about renal failure patients?
Recently, Chlamydia pneumoniae is the microorganism frequently implicated in the infection-based inflammatory atherogenous hypothesis. Although in vitro experimental data and initial sero-epidemiologic, pathology-based studies and antibiotic trials supported this interesting hypothesis, later data are conflicting. Some confounding factors are the causes of uncertainty; lacking of standard methods for C. pneumoniae detection, co-existence of other atherosclerotic risk factors and anti-inflammatory effects of antibiotics used in clinical trials seem to be the principal ones. Standardization of methodology used, antibiotic trials with a different orientation-design and a vaccine preparation that eventually will be tested in clinical trials with a long follow-up, should provide a definite answer regarding the probability C. pneumoniae to be a main, a secondary or an irrelevant factor to atherosclerosis. Studies linking C. pneumoniae to inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis in renal failure patients are accumulated but limitations are similar to the above mentioned.
Tsirpanlis
George
G
Renal Unit, Alexandra General Hospital, Athens, Greece. tsipg@hellasnet.gr
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors