Japanese Heart Journal
Online ISSN : 1348-673X
Print ISSN : 0021-4868
ISSN-L : 0021-4868
Markers of Chronic Infection and Inflammation. Are They Important in Cases with Chronic Coronary Heart Disease
H. Asuman KAFTANOsman KAFTANMustafa KILIÇ
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1999 Volume 40 Issue 3 Pages 275-280

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Abstract

The human cytomegalovirus plays a causal role in atherosclerosis etiology, but it is discussed as controversial. We conducted a case control study to investigate whether previous infection with cytomegalovirus is associated with coronary heart disease and markers of systemic inflammation, because systemic inflammation may play a role in atherosclerosis too. We also studied the correlation between anti-cytomegalovirus antibody titer and coronary artery disease. The study involved 150 caes (45 females, mean age±SD is 58.73±7.68 years) with a documented coronary heart disease and 160 healthy volunteers (50 females, mean age±SD is 57.82±7.68, p > 0.05). Cytomegalovirus serology was performed to determine the presence of specific IgG antibodies and titers of the anti-cytomegalovirus IgG antibodies. In addition, C-Reactive protein levels were determined for each case. The prevalance of specific antibodies to cytomegalovirus was 57.30% for the patients and 56% for the controls (p=0.39). But higher levels of anti-cytomegalovirus IgG antibody titer (> 1/800) were seen in the patient group (28.6% versus 10%, p=0.0000). Mean value of C-reactive protein was higher in the patient group (2.99±0.92 mg/l versus 1.79±0.51 mg/l, p=0.0000), and there was a linar correlation with the high antibody titers and the level of C-reactive protein (r=0.35, p=0.0000) These findings support that not the seropositivity of the population but rather the titer of anti-cytomegalovirus antibody and the levels of C-reactive protein could predict patients with a high risk of coronary heart disease.

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© 1999 by the Japanese Heart Journal
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