Arterial stiffness and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in coronary artery disease. Is there a link?

BACKGROUND: We investigated the possible association between antichlamydial antibodies and pulse wave analysis (PWA) parameters in a cohort of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: The augmentation index (AI), the reflection time index (RTI) and the time to the beginning of the reflected wave (CT-1) were estimated (Sphygmocor ATCOR Medical). IgA titers >or= 40 and IgG >or=80 were considered as positive (microimmunofluorescence test). Patients also underwent coronary angiography, ultrasound carotid measurements and 24 h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurements. RESULTS: No differences existed in the traditional risk factors for CAD between the seronegative and seropositive IgA/ IgG groups. IgA seropositive subjects had higher values of AI (p < 0.01) comparing to seronegatives whilst the levels of CT-1 and RTI were lower (p < 0.011 and p < 0.02 respectively). No differences in AI, CT-1 and RTI values were found between IgG seropositive/ seronegatives patients. CONCLUSIONS: An association was indicated between IgA antichlamydial titers and PWA parameters in patients with CAD, supporting that the connecting link between arterial stiffness and CAD might include this microorganism.