title: [Rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque: is Chlamydia pneumoniae a possible agent?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The natural history of atherosclerosis has not clearly been elucidated yet. Some works reported that flogosis plays a role in plaque instability. Why does this inflammatory process start? We investigated the correlation between Chlamydia pneumoniae acute infection and plaque rupture.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared blood concentrations of IgM anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae in patients affected by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in patients affected by stable angina.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed a minimal statistical difference, with a more positive value in patients with AMI. Subsequently, the group affected by AMI was divided into two subgroups with and without plaque rupture: the subgroup with plaque rupture showed a higher blood concentration of Chlamydia antibodies. This subgroup was also divided into two other subgroups according to blood white cell concentration: the subgroup with normal concentration of white blood cells showed the highest value of Chlamydia antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlamydia pneumoniae could play an important role in atherosclerotic plaque instability
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi, Palermo. Giovanni.fazio-aaaa@poste.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sutera
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cascio
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Briguglia
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taormina
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giammanco
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Assennato
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novo
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; D007075:Immunoglobulin M