The association between Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in arherosclerotic plaque and major risk factors in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae pathogen inside the atherosclerotic plaque of patients undergoing CABG by using PCR assay and to determine whether there is any association between the presence of bacteria in atherosclerotic lesions and classical coronary risk factors.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, 102 patients (20 to 79 years old; 73.5% male) undergoing CABG were evaluated in terms of major coronary risk factors and the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae.


RESULTS
Chlamydia pneumoniae was found in 23.4% of coronary plaque specimens. Of these, two patients had no risk factor and the rest of the patients had 1 to 3 risk factors. Patients with positive PCR were more likely to have hypercholesterolaemia (p = 0.009) and low HDL levels (p = 0.000) in comparison with the PCR-negative group. There were no statistical differences for other risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results imply the synergic contribution of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA and known dyslipidaemia to the development of atherosclerotic lesions in patients undergoing CABG.
Department of Cardiology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Daryoosh Kamal
DK
Hedayat
Mohammad
M
Jebeli
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Mandegar
Jamshid
J
Bagheri
Seyed Abbas
SA
Nabavi
Payam
P
Eghtesadi-Araghi
Robabeh
R
Mohammadzadeh
Ali
A
Darehzereshki
Sam
S
Chitsaz
Ali
A
Abbasi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015897:Comorbidity; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D004269:DNA, Bacterial