Serum lipid profiles poorly correlate with Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and cytomegalovirus seropositivity in prospectively followed-up healthy children.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), Helicobacter pylori (Hp), and herpes virus infections have been associated with atherogenic serum lipid profile and an excess of cardiovascular events in adults. Because mechanisms leading to atherosclerosis are active since early childhood, we examined whether Cpn, Hp, or cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity relates to serum lipid, lipoprotein, or apolipoprotein concentrations in children. We also looked for factors increasing probability of Cpn seropositivity in children.


RESULTS
Cpn-specific IgG and IgA, as well as Hp-specific and CMV-specific IgG antibodies were assessed by enzyme immunoassay in 199 apparently healthy children, followed-up from 7 to 11 years of age. Serum lipid profiles were studied at the ages of 7, 9, and 11 years using standard methods. Neither seroconversion to Cpn IgG or IgA antibody positivity nor persistent seropositivity for Cpn, Hp, or CMV was associated with proatherogenic serum lipid values. Children with siblings were more likely to possess Cpn antibodies than children without siblings (IgG: OR, 5.24; 95% CI, 1.63 to 16.82; IgA: OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.15 to 9.57).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that contrary to the observations in adults, Cpn, Hp, and CMV seropositivity in otherwise healthy children is not associated with disturbances in serum lipid profile.
Volanen
Iina
I
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland. iina.volanen@utu.fi
Raitakari
Olli T
OT
Vainionpää
Raija
R
Arffman
Martti
M
Aarnisalo
Johanna
J
Anglé
Susanna
S
Kallio
Katariina
K
Simell
Olli
O
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008055:Lipids