Abstract

Many seroepidemiological studies have suggested that infection with Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and Cytomegalovirus can initiate or maintain the atherosclerotic process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the probable relationship between serum titers of some infectious agents and the occurrence of acute coronary artery syndrome.  This is a hospital based case-control study, cases were collected from patients admitted to ICU of Cleopatra hospital, and Ain Shams University Hospital with acute myocardial infarction between January 2010 and June 2010 and controls group were apparently healthy individuals. A questionnaire was designed to determine conventional coronary artery risk factors. The sero-prevalence of C. pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus and H. pylori IgG antibodies were evaluated using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that there were high levels of serum IgG antibodies of C. pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus and H. pylori among patients with acute coronary syndrome compared to control subjects. C. pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus and H. pylori were expected to be predictors for acute coronary artery disease, as there was significant elevation of serum titers of these infectious agents among cardiac patients.

Key words:    Acute coronary syndrome, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus, Helicobacter pylori