Department of Clinical Pathology1, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu; Department of Laboratory Medicine2, Pohang St. Mary’s Hospital, Pohang; Health Promotion Center3, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
Background: There is some evidence linking the infections with common organisms such as Chlamydophila pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Helicobacter pylori and HIV to myocardial infarction (MI). We had performed a serologic study to assess whether C. pneumoniae, CMV, H. pylori and HIV infections are associated with MI.
Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 54 cases of acute MI, 33 cases of old MI, and 60 normal controls. C-reactive protein (CRP) as an inflammation marker was measured and antibodies to C. pneumoniae, CMV, H. pylori and HIV were assayed by ELISA. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated against control group.
Results: CRP was significantly higher in the acute MI and old MI group. ORs of C. pneumoniae infection increased considerably in the acute MI (IgM 1.57, IgG 4.80) and old MI group (IgM 2.42, IgG 5.18). ORs of CMV infection were 3.30 in the acute MI and 5.12 in old MI group. ORs of H. pylori infection showed below 1 in the acute MI and old MI. Anti-HIV antibody showed all negative result in three groups, so OR could not be calculated.
Conclusion: C. pneumoniae and CMV infections appear to be risk factors for MI. (Korean J Clin Microbiol 2005;8(1):41-46)