Background. Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae, a common human respiratory pathogen, has recently been associated with cardiovascular syndromes, such as AAA, myocardial infarction and stroke. According to the literature data, a significantly high percentage of patients with cardiovascular diseases exhibited serological markers of chronic C. pneumoniae infection.
Aim of the study. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of C. pneumoniae infection in CHD, CAD and AAA patients by measuring specific serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels.
Material and methods. 47 patients (8 F, 39 M), mean age 64.4 years, with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or unstable angina (UA); 17 patients (3 F, 14 M), mean age 66.5 years operated for CAD and 28 patients (5 F, 23 M), mean age 68.5 years operated for AAA participated in the research. 20 control subjects matched for age and sex (4 F, 16 M) without clinical signs and symptoms of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, took part in our study. Microimmunofluorescence method was applied to evaluate the level of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG, IgA and IgM. Chlamydia pneumoniae micro-IF test (Labsystem) was used. The results were evaluated by means of STATISTICA program and considered statistically significant when p < 0.05.
Results. Serological markers of chronic C. pneumoniae infection were detected in 37/47 (80.9%) CHD patients, in 12/17 (70.6%) CAD patients, in 25/28 (89.3%) AAA patients and in 6/20 (30%) healthy controls. 21/37 (56.8%) CHD, 5/12 (41.7%) CAD and 10/25 (40.0%) AAA patients with serological signs of chronic infection had high titres of specific IgG and IgA, indicating active infection. All CAD and AAA patients with active infection were symptomatic.
Conclusions. Serological signs of chronic C. pneumoniae infection occur statistically more frequently in CHD, CAD and AAA patients in comparison with healthy controls. Active C. pneumoniae infection is associated with symptomatic CAD and AAA.