Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: We investigated 92 patients with stable angina pectoris who underwent coronary angiography to assess chest pain. Before angiography, C. pneumoniae IgG was analyzed. The number of major coronary arteries (1-3) having at least one diameter narrowing (>/=50%) stenosis was determined. The patients were divided into two groups of equal size, according to C. pneumoniae IgG levels. One group included individuals with C. pneumoniae IgG levels exceeding 46 enzyme-immuno-units (EIU)/L and the other consisted of subjects with IgG concentrations below 46 EIU/L. RESULTS: Subjects with higher antibody concentrations had a more severe disease. The number of diseased arteries was 2.1+/-0.8 (S.D.) and 1.4+/-0.6 (S.D.) for the two groups, respectively. The difference is highly significant (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a causative relationship between C. pneumoniae IgG and the degree of coronary atherosclerosis. It does not, however, prove causality.
Järemo
P
P
Department of Cardiology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
Richter
A
A