CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE ANTIBODY-RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION AND THEIR FOLLOW-UP

Study Populations This study concerned the possible relations between seroreactivity to Chlamydia pneumoniae and myocardial infarction. A gr oup of 29 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 74 members of a healthy control group, and a subgroup of 24 members of a healthy control group matched for age, sex, and coronary risk factors (HCM) we re included in the study. In addition, we evaluated the AMI group in a 1-year patients' follow-up study. We used two different tests to dete ct anti-C. pneumoniae antibodies: recombinant enzyme immunoassay antil ipopolysaccharide antibodies and a reference microimmunofluorescence t est. Results High titers of C. pneumoniae microimmunofluorescence anti bodies were Found in 89.65% of the AMI group and in 25% of the HCM gro up (p = 0.0000065). Immunoglobulin A-microimmunofluorescence was 51.72 % in the AMI group and 20.83% in the HCM group (p = 0.0042). Immunoglo bulin G and immunoglobulin A antilipopolysaccharide titers were 65.51% and 62.60% in the AMI group and 20.83% in the HCM group, respectively (p = 0.006). High concentrations of interleukin-6 were found in 86.20 % of our AMI group (mu value = 54.38 pg/ml) when compared with the con trol group. A good correlation between interleukin-6 levels and immuno globulin A-lipopolysaccharide titers (r = 0.658) was found. Conclusion The presence of a high prevalence rate and high titers of immunoglobu lin G and immunoglobulin A-specific anti-C pneumoniae antibodies in AM I at admission demonstrated the presence of a specific anti-C, pneumon iae immunization in the AMI population.