[Antibodies against Chlamydophila in patients with acute myocardial infarction and coronary risk and their association with mortality].

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether antibodies against Chlamydophila pneumoniae in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and coronary risk factors are associated with death.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients hospitalized in the Coronary Unit of Centro Medico La Raza Hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security, between 1999 and 2000. Subjects were males and females older than 18 years, diagnosed with AMI and coronary risk. Antibodies against Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Chlamydophila psitacii and Chlamydia trachomatis were measured using an indirect microinmunofluorescence assay. In addition, blood samples from 33 patients from the original group were taken when the patients were discharged from the hospital,and 3 months after their myocardial infarction. Data analysis consisted of geometric means and standard deviations as well as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Seventy percent of patients presented antibodies against Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Antibodies against Chlamydophila psittaci and Chlamydia trachomatis were not identified. No statistically significant association was found between antibodies and death in these patients with coronary risk factors and AMI. In the subgroup of 33 individuals 25 had antibodies against Chlamydophila pneumoniae and in 83% of them antibodies decreased three months after the AMI event.

Conclusions: Even though patients with coronary risk factors and AMI had an increased seropositivity for Chlamydophila pneumoniae it was not significantly associated with death.