Background:Atherosclerosis is a coronary heart disease, andis the most common cause of death in the industrialized world. Some studies suggested that atherosclerosis may be triggered by infectious agents, mostly Chlamydophila pneumoniae. However, the role of C. pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis is still controversial.Objectives:This study was performed to evaluate whether there is a significant association between coronary artery atherosclerosis and C. pneumoniae by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.Materials and Methods:This case-control study was carried out on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue biopsies of the coronary arteries obtained from 30 patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 30 subjects without atherosclerosis living in Northeast of Iran. All subjects' weight and height were determined, and the body mass index was calculated. We also reviewed the medical history and previous laboratory reports of patients. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted, and C. pneumonia DNA was amplified and detected using PCR assay.Results:The age of the patients in the study group was from 18 to 50 years, and the male to female ratio was 5:1. Only oneout of the 30 coronary tissue samples had positive PCR for C. pneumoniae (3.3%), while it was negative for patients in the control group.Conclusions:This study showed that C. pneumoniae infection is not strongly associated with coronary artery atherosclerosis in Northeast of Iran.

İmmünolojik faktörlerin potansiyel bir rolünün olduğu belirtilen tekrarlayan düşük, gebeliğin komplikasyonlarından biridir. Burada, tekrarlayan düşüğü olan iki genç kadın infertilite merkezinde değerlendirildi. IgG4 eksikliğinin tanısı, IgG4 immünoglobulin seviyelerindeki ve normal toplam IgG titresindeki düşüşle konuldu. Bu anormallik dikkate alındığında, ayda 200 mg/kg intravenöz immünoglobulin başlandı ve her iki hastada da başarılı gebelikler elde edildi. Tekrarlayan düşüğü olan kadınlardaki IgG4 eksikliği hakkında çok az şey bilinmektedir. IgG4 eksikliği bu hastalarda dikkate alınmalıdır. Bu sonuçların, tekrarlayan düşüğü olan kadınlarda intravenöz immünoglobulinin uygulanabilirliğine daha fazla ışık tutması beklenmektedir. AbstractRecurrent miscarriage is one of the complications of pregnancy in which the potential role of immunologic factors has already been mentioned. Here, two young women with recurrent miscarriage were consulted in the infertility center. The diagnosis of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) deficiency was made through the reduction of IgG4 Ig levels and normal total IgG titer. Considering this abnormality, intravenous Ig 200 mg/kg was started monthly, and they both had successful pregnancies. Little is known about IgG4 deficiency in women with recurrent miscarriage. IgG4 deficiency should be taken into account in these patients. It is expected that these results will shed further light on the feasibility of intravenous Ig for women with recurrent miscarriage.

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