title: Anti-cytomegalovirus antibody levels are associated with carotid atherosclerosis and inflammatory cytokine production in elderly Koreans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have implicated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection as a possible etiological factor in cardiovascular disease. We assessed whether anti-HCMV antibody levels are associated with carotid atherosclerosis and inflammatory cytokine production in elderly Koreans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (age, ≥65 years) were prospectively enrolled from September 2012 to July 2013 at a 2000-bed university hospital. During the study period, 71 participants (29 males) were prospectively enrolled, and thirty-five (49.3%) of these individuals were in the group designated as high intima-media thickness (IMT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed three independent risk factors of high IMT: higher levels of anti-HCMV antibody (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, p=0.003), Framingham score (OR 1.14, p=0.018), and levels of IL-1β (OR 2.96, p=0.013). Anti-HCMV antibody levels had a significantly positive correlation with max-IMT (r=0.523, p<0.001), free T4 levels (r=0.315, p=0.021), and Log(TNF-α) (r=0.562, p<0.001) in multivariate correlation analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings may provide insight into the role of HCMV in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation in elderly individuals.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Su Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Jeong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Nam Su
authors: NS
authors: Ku
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sang Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Han
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jun Yong
authors: JY
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cokim@yuhs.ac.
authors: Chang Oh
authors: CO
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young Goo
authors: YG
authors: Song
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: June Myung
authors: JM
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Carotid atherosclerosis; Cytomegalovirus; Elderly patients; Inflammatory cytokines