SerologicalExaminationin Atherosclerosis and its Vascular Complications

Overview

Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. p.) is very frequently cited as an important factor of the origin ofatherosclerosis. To confirm the diagnostic value of the serological examination the followingreactions have been used: microimmunofluorescence reaction (MIF) for estimating of antibodiesagainst major outer membrane proteins C. p. (anti-MOMP) and ELISA for detecting antibodiesagainst the lipopolysacharides of C. p. (anti-LPS), both in IgA and IgG immunoglobulin classes ofthe serum. The ELISA for the detection of the IgG antibodies against chlamydial heat shock protein(cHSP60) has been used.The sera of 155 patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 69 patients withunstable angina pectoris (UAP) have been examined. The heart disease has been confirmed byanamnesis, electrocardiography and coronarography. As a control group the sera from 112 personswithout sings of a heart disease were examined. The antibodies against the cHSP60 have beendetermined only in the sera 69 patients with UAP and 49 control sera.Statistically higher occurrence of the antibodies anti-MOMP C. p. in the IgA class sera of patientssuffering from UAP has been noted compared with those found in the sera of the control group (χ2= 18.56; p < 0.01). In the globulin IgG class of the both groups no difference has been found. Theanti-LPS C. p. antibodies in the IgA as well in IgG anti-LPS classes of the patients sera with UAPwere present significantly more frequently than in the control group (χ2 = 11.49; p < 0.01, χ2 = 4.16; p< 0.05). Similarly the incidence of the anti-LPS C. p. antibodies in the IgA class sera of 155 patientssuffering from AMI was significantly higher than in the control group (χ2 = 8.55; p < 0.01). Theanti-cHSP60 antibodies have been found in 41 out of 69 patients suffering from UAP (59.4%) and in21 of 49 control individuals (42.9%).The results seem to confirm an important role of C. p. in atherogenesis. The monitoring of the antibodies against the C. p. may supplement the diagnostics in patients suffering fromUAP and AMIand the efficacy of its therapy and prevention as well.

Key words:
atherogenesis – cardiovascular diseases – Chlamydia pneumoniae – HSP60.