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Is Chlamydia Pneumoniae a Risk Factor for Peripheral Atherosclerosis?

Haim Üstünsoy, MD, Cumhur Sivrikoz, MD¹, Fatma Sirmatel, MD², Kemal Bakir, MD³, Oktay Burma, MD⁴, Hakki Kazaz, MD

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
² Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology
³ Department of Pathology, Gaziantep University Medical Faculty, Gaziantep, Turkey
¹ Department of Thoracic Surgery, Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Eskiehir, Turkey
⁴ Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey

For reprint information contact: Haim Üstünsoy, MD, Tel: 90 342 360 3910, Fax: 90 342 360 0196, Email: hustunsoy{at}yahoo.com, Gaziantep University Medical Faculty, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bulvari University, Gaziantep 27310, Turkey.

Seroepidemiological studies have shown a relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae and coronary atherosclerosis. It is not clear whether Chlamydia pneumoniae is also a risk factor for peripheral atherosclerosis. Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies were measured by a microimmunofluorescence method in 75 patients who underwent surgery for peripheral atherosclerosis, and the seroprevalence was compared with that in the normal population. Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin-G seroprevalence was 80% in the study group vs. 40% in controls. More foam cells were noted on light microscopy in atherosclerotic plaques from the infected patients. The 60 infected patients were divided into: group A (n = 35) given both anti-chlamydial and antiplatelet agents for 1 year; and group B (n = 25) given antiplatelet therapy only. The groups were compared on the basis of clinical findings, ankle-brachial index, and antibody titers. Decreasing Chlamydia pneumoniae immunoglobulin-G seroprevalence in group A correlated significantly with increasing ankle-brachial index and improvement in clinical findings. It was concluded that Chlamydia pneumoniae may be a risk factor for peripheral atherosclerosis.