title: Non-detectable Chlamydophila pneumoniae DNA in peripheral leukocytes in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with and without carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study Chlamydophila pneumoniae DNA (CP-DNA) in leukocytes measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) with different degrees of atherosclerosis, a cross-sectional protocol was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 135 patients with DM2. Clinical, metabolic and inflammatory variables were measured. Previous clinical macrovascular disease was recorded and carotid ultrasound and real-time PCR for CP-DNA were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 62 (7) years and mean diabetes duration 16 (9) years; 40.7% of patients presented clinical atherosclerosis, 32.5% subclinical atherosclerosis and 26.6% no evidence of atherosclerosis. Anthropometric data were homogeneous in the three groups. Patients with clinical atherosclerosis had greater carotid intima-media thickness compared to the other two groups. No CP-DNA was detected in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of detection of CP-DNA in blood leukocytes suggests that C. pneumoniae plays no active, systemic role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in DM2 patients and is not a reliable marker of atherosclerosis in high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. reverter.germanstrias@gencat.cat
authors.forename: Jordi L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Reverter
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tàssies
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pellitero
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanmartí
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reverter
mesh_terms: D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial