Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 55, 49-51, 2002

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Short Communication

Chlamydophila pneumoniae Specific Antibodies in Thai Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Piyada Wangroongsarb*, Puchaniyada Phuekfen¹, Pimjai Naigowit and Toshikatsu Hagiwara

National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000 and ¹Cardiology Division, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Bangkok 10220, Thailand

(Received February 14, 2002. Accepted April 25, 2002)

SUMMARY: To investigate the correlation between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a total of 101 serum specimens collected from patients with AMI admitted to the coronary care unit, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, and serum specimens collected from healthy blood donors (control group) were examined by using the micro-immunofluorescence test. C. pneumoniae antibody- positive cases were found in 52 (52%) patients, consisting of 30 males and 22 females, though no significant difference of prevalence rate was observed when compared with the rate in the control group. However, the level of IgG titers in patients was higher than that in the controls, and this finding may support an association between C. pneumoniae infection and AMI. Among patients with AMI, several cases were suspected to have current infections because of a fourfold or higher titer increase in IgG or titers in IgM antibody of 1:32 or 1:64. There is no significant correlation between serologic test results and diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyper cholesterol, a smoking habit, or the location of myocardial infarction among patients with AMI.

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