CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE AND MYOCARDITIS

Sera from 20 male patients with a diagnosis suggestive of myocarditis, perimyocarditis or pericarditis were found significantly more often t o have specific IBA antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae than sera from healthy blood donors of the same age and from the same time period. A less pronounced difference in IgG titres was found between patients an d blood donors, and IgM antibodies were found only in one patient. A s triking variation over time in the prevalence of specific antibodies t o C. pneumoniae was seen in consecutive male blood donors over a 5-yea r observation period. The findings were discussed and it was concluded that C. pneumoniae may be associated with inflammatory heart disease.