Investigation of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in Moroccan patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Chlamydia pneumoniae is an intracellular bacterium responsible for respiratory diseases and is highly involved in cardiovascular disease development, mainly atherosclerosis. The main objective of our study was to evaluate C. pneumoniae prevalence in Moroccan patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. A total of 115 patients with cardiovascular diseases were enrolled, and their clinical and behavioral information was recorded. Blood was sampled from all patients as well as the atheroma plaques from 36 patients undergoing surgery. Nested PCR was performed for C. pneumoniae DNA detection in both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and atheroma plaques. Statistical analysis was performed using EpiInfo software. Data analysis showed cardiovascular disease dominance in men, with a sex ratio M/F of 3.4, a majority of tobacco users (52.2%), and many diabetics (44.3%). A significant difference between genders was shown for tobacco use (p<0.05). Positive cases for PBMCs and atheroma plaques were 61% and 86%, respectively, and a significant difference between PBMCs and atheroma plaque infection was identified (p=0.02). Data analysis also showed that 12% of patients presented only C. pneumoniae infection as a risk factor. Therefore, the high prevalence of C. pneumoniae suggests its involvement in atherosclerosis, and further investigation is recommended for confirmation.

Chronic Inflammatory Diseases at Secondary Sites Ensuing Urogenital or Pulmonary Chlamydia Infections

“…Supporting: Presence of C. pneumoniae in atherosclerotic plaques exacerbates disease pathology; elevated anti-C. pneumoniae antibodies among patients [23][24][25].…”

“…Pulmonary infection with C. pneumoniae has been associated with development of atherosclerosis [85][86][87]. Many studies of recent years have shown that C. pneumoniae can be found in atherosclerotic plaques [23], and its presence exacerbates atherosclerosis pathology [24,25]. The first suggestion of a possible association between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases came from a study by Saikku et al [88], who discovered that the patients with acute myocardial infarction and chronic coronary heart disease had significantly higher anti-Chlamydia antibody titres as compared with healthy controls.…”

“…This finding in 1988 soon snowballed into many succeeding studies focusing on the role of C. pneumoniae in the pathogenesis, progression, and acceleration of atherosclerosis. A recent study on 115 Moroccan patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) showed high prevalence of C. pneumoniae within the population [23]. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in both patient peripheral blood mononuclear cell and atheroma plaque samples at prevalence rates of 61% and 86%, respectively [23].…”

“…A recent study on 115 Moroccan patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) showed high prevalence of C. pneumoniae within the population [23]. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in both patient peripheral blood mononuclear cell and atheroma plaque samples at prevalence rates of 61% and 86%, respectively [23]. Notably, 12% of the study population presented only C. pneumoniae infection as a sole risk factor for CVD, where other risk factors accounted for include tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes, and high blood pressure [23].…”

“…C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in both patient peripheral blood mononuclear cell and atheroma plaque samples at prevalence rates of 61% and 86%, respectively [23]. Notably, 12% of the study population presented only C. pneumoniae infection as a sole risk factor for CVD, where other risk factors accounted for include tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes, and high blood pressure [23]. This finding contributes to the hypothesis that C. pneumoniae infection may play a causative role in atherosclerosis that precedes CVD.…”