Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and markers of inflammation in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
BACKGROUND
Chlamydia pneumoniae is suggested to be associated with cardiovascular diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To study the presence of IgG, IgA anti-C. pneumoniae antibodies, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) as markers of previous C. pneumoniae infection and inflammation, in sera of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AIM), hypertension (HT), and coronary heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
Determination of these markers by ELISA method.


RESULTS
Proportion of samples containing both IgG and IgA antibodies as well as IL-6 was significantly higher in all groups of patients than in a control group. The CRP was significantly higher in patients with AIM and HT, however, in other patients, the proportion of positive samples depended on the chosen cut-off value.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained indicate the feasibility of following chlamydial antibodies on higher number of serum samples extended to direct detection of C. pneumoniae in blood and vascular tissue (Tab. 2, Ref. 24).
Research Base of the Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia. jan.kazar@szu.sk
J
J
Kazar
E
E
Kovacova
K
K
Koncova
S
S
Cvachova
V
V
Mongiellova
J
J
Lietava
F
F
Simko
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000150:complications; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D002097:C-Reactive Protein