High prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and increased high-sensitive C-reactive protein in patients with vascular dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationships between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, carotid atherosclerosis, and dyslipidemia in patients with vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
Case control study.


METHODS
Showa University Karasuyama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-four elderly subjects: 31 with VaD, 61 with AD, and 32 age-matched controls without dementia.


METHODS
Presence of antibodies to C. pneumoniae (immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA), the serum concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and atherogenic lipoproteins, and the carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques were determined.


RESULTS
Age; body mass index; systolic and diastolic blood pressures; and fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A(1c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A-I, B, and E concentrations did not differ significantly between the three groups, but the mean IMT and frequency of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries, as well as the serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein(a), and lipid peroxides were significantly greater in VaD patients than in AD patients or nondemented controls. Hs-CRP concentrations and prevalence of C. pneumoniae IgG and IgA antibodies also were significantly higher in VaD patients than in AD patients and nondemented controls. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that carotid IMT and plaques, LDL-C, lipid peroxides, hs-CRP, and IgG and IgA C. pneumoniae seropositivity were independent risk factors for VaD.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that carotid atherosclerosis, atherogenic lipoproteins, and C. pneumoniae infection (as documented by the IgG and IgA seropositivity together with increased hs-CRP) may be VaD risk factors.
Yamamoto
Hideki
H
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
Watanabe
Takuya
T
Miyazaki
Akira
A
Katagiri
Takashi
T
Idei
Tsunenori
T
Iguchi
Takashi
T
Mimura
Masaru
M
Kamijima
Kunitoshi
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D002097:C-Reactive Protein