Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients with symptomatic atherothrombosis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to search for an association between chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, indicated by elevated antibody titers against the pathogen, atherothrombosis and the occurrence of arterial ischemic events.

METHODS

We studied 52 patients presenting at baseline with at least one symptomatic episode of atherothrombosis. A screening for fasting blood glucose and a lipid profile was performed on all patients who had no known history of diabetes or hypercholesterolemia.

RESULTS

The prevalence of IgG and IgA anti-C. pneumoniae antibodies at baseline was 90% (95% CI: 79-97) and 81% (67-90), respectively. Forty-two of the 52 patients (81%) experienced a new arterial ischemic event after a mean follow-up of 9 years [heart: 19 (37%); brain: 12 (23%); lower limbs: 8 (15%); and other: 13 (25%)]. Occurrence of a new arterial ischemic event was related to age (p=0.003), sex (p=0.009), and tobacco smoking (p=0.06). Prevalences of IgA and IgG anti-C. pneumoniae were significantly higher in patients with atherothrombosis at baseline than that in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed the links between C. pneumoniae and atherothrombosis. However, neither IgA nor IgG antibodies for C. pneumoniae was a significant predictive factor for new ischemic arterial events in patients with atherothrombosis.