Serological evidence of infection with C. pneumonia and occurrence of abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis.

Abstract

Seroepidemiological and some experimental evidence relate Chlamydia pneumoniae with the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such atherosclerosis and Abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods and Materials: Study group:  sixty consecutive patients operated on in our department, thirty patients operated for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) and thirty patients for aortoiliac occlusive disease: Leriche's syndrome (LS). Each research group assessed separately, each with various manifestations of ischemic vascular diseases of lower limbs. Control group were 31 patients admitted to our surgery department for treatment of abdominal hernia and gallbladder stones diseases without evidence of atherosclerosis nor aortic aneurysm. The blood samples were sent for serological tests: ELISA to detect IgG and IgA anti- C.pneumonia. So our aim was to study the relationship between serological evidence of infection with C.pneumonia and occurance of AAA and LS. Result:  Sixty patients; 30 with abdominal aortic aneurysm (mean age 67.4: 27male, 3female) and 30 with aortoiliac arteriosclerosis (mean age 58.5; 29 male, 1fe male) undergone surgery of the abdominal aorta for atherosclerotic obstructive lesions were the study group. In our study detectable IgG antibodies to C.pneumonia was more common among the study group patients than the control group  (85% VS  61% , P<0.02). It was  also noted that IgG anti C.pneumonia detected more in patients with AAA((96,6%) than patients with LS (73,3%); P<0.01. Study group patients were roughly have had the same level  as the control group regarding  IgA antibodies anti-C.pneumonia (58% VS 67%; P value is insignificant).So we conclude that these findings suggest that infection with C. pneumonia may play a role in the pathogenesis of AAA and LS and further studies in this area are needed.