Chlamydia pneumoniae and luminal narrowing after coronary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES

Numerous studies have linked Chlamydia pneumoniae with atherosclerotic vessel disease and a trend for an association of the bacteria with restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has also been observed. The aim of this study was to assess the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the luminal narrowing taking place after PTCA.

DESIGN

A noninterventional 6-month follow-up study.

SETTING

A university hospital.

SUBJECTS

A total of 122 patients with angiographically proven coronary heart disease (CHD) referred for PTCA.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The degree of luminal narrowing in the coronary arteries following coronary angioplasty.

RESULTS

The levels of C. pneumoniae antibodies (IgG, IgA and IgM classes) and immune complexes were not associated with luminal narrowing after PTCA in multivariate analyses whilst smoking, plasma endothelin levels and diabetes were. The serologic parameters did not change during the follow up either.

CONCLUSIONS

These results do not support a role for C. pneumoniae in luminal narrowing following PTCA.