Clinical Studies
Circulating chlamydia pneumoniaeDNA as a predictor of coronary artery disease

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(99)00391-5Get rights and content
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether current vascular Chlamydia pneumoniae(CPn) infection as diagnosed by circulating CPn DNA is more common in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD).

BACKGROUND

Serological, pathological and animal studies have associated CPn with CAD and preliminary trials suggest antibiotics may prevent adverse coronary events. C. pneumoniaeis thought to disseminate systemically within macrophages. We therefore detected CPn DNA in blood to determine whether its presence was a predictor of CAD.

METHODS

One thousand, two hundred and five subjects attending for diagnostic and interventional coronary arteriography were recruited. The mononuclear cell layer and platelets were separated from collected blood and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect CPn DNA.

RESULTS

Circulating CPn DNA was found in 8.8% of 669 men with CAD compared with 2.9% of 135 men with normal coronary arteries (odds ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–8.9). In men with CAD, those with CPn DNA had higher mean platelet counts than those without CPn DNA. Monocyte counts and indirect fibrinogen levels were also raised but not significantly so. By contrast, no association of circulating CPn DNA and CAD was seen in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating CPn DNA is a predictor of CAD in men. Unlike serology, it is a specific indicator of current infection and is a means of identifying subjects who may potentially benefit from antichlamydial therapy.

Abbreviations

CAD
coronary artery disease
CI
confidence interval
CPn
Chlamydia pneumoniae
OR
odds ratio
PBS
phosphate buffered saline
PCR
polymerase chain reaction

Cited by (0)

This study was supported by a grant from the British Heart Foundation. Dr. Yuk-ki Wong was supported by a grant from Wessex Cardiac Trust.