Role of Chlamydia, mycoplasma and cytomegalovirus infection in the development of coronary artery disease

AIM: To assess relationship between some infection factors and presence of coronary heart disease. MATERIAL: Patients with myocardial infarction (n=56), unstable angina (n=50), stable angina (n=50) and age - matched controls (n=49). METHODS: Levels of IgG, IgM, IgA antibodies to Chlamydia pneumonia, Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia psittaci, IgG, IgM antibodies to Cytomegalovirus, and also of antibodies and antigen to Mycoplasma pneumoniae were measured in blood serum. RESULTS: Compared with controls patients with coronary heart disease had higher frequency of seropositivity to Chlamydia pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumonia and Cytomegalovirus (p< 0.05 ) and similar levels of seropositivity to Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia psittaci. Infectious burden (quantity of antibodies per one patient) was significantly higher in patients with myocardial infarction, unstable and stable angina than in controls (1.58, 1.42, 1.41 and 0.95, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results confirm presence of association between infection and coronary heart disease.