title: Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody titers and cardiac calcifications: a cross-sectional serological-echocardiographic correlative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chlamydia pneumoniae has previously been associated with higher prevalence of valvular and cardiac calcifications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate a possible association of seropositivity for C. pneumoniae and the presence of cardiac calcifications (mitral annular or aortic root calcification, and aortic valve sclerosis).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed serological data (immunoglobulin G TWAR antibodies) from the AZACS trial (Azithromycin in Acute Coronary Syndromes), and correlated the serological findings according to titer levels with the presence of cardiac calcifications as detected by transthoracic echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 271 patients, age 69 +/- 13 years, who underwent both serological and echocardiographic evaluation, we found no significant association between the "calcification sum score" (on a scale of 0-3) in seropositive compared to seronegative patients (1.56 +/- 1.15 vs.1.35 +/- 1.15, respectively, P = 0.26). The median calcification sum score was 1 (interquartile range 0-3) for the seronegative group, and 2 (interquartile range 0-3) for the seropositive group (P = 0.2757). In addition, we did not find a significant correlation of any of the individual sites of cardiac calcification and C. pneumoniae seropositivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that past C. pneumoniae infection may not be associated with the pathogenesis of valvular and cardiac calcifications.
authors: Department of Cardiology, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. atar_sh@clalit.org.il
authors: Shaul
authors: S
authors: Atar
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: Tolstrup
authors: Bojan
authors: B
authors: Cercek
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Siegel
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000276:immunology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial