Anti-heat shock protein-27 (Hsp-27) antibody levels in patients with chest pain: association with established cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Antibody titres to several heat shock proteins (Hsps) have been shown to be associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but there are no data for Hsp-27. We developed an ELISA for total IgG antibody concentrations, applying this to individuals with and without acute coronary syndrome, and have assessed the relationship between antibody levels and individual coronary risk factors.

Methods: Blood was collected from 63 healthy controls without a history of chest pain or CVD and 60 patients admitted to hospital with acute cardiac chest pain on admission and approximately 12 h after the acute event.

Results: Patients with chest pain had significantly higher Hsp-27 antibody levels than controls [median 0.16 (range 0.01-0.51) vs. 0.10 (range 0.00-0.32); p<0.001]. Furthermore, Hsp-27 antibody concentrations showed strong associations with age and hypertension (Standardised beta coefficient=0.343, p<0.001 and = -0.235, p<0.016, respectively), but not with other established cardiovascular risk factors. Logistic regression analysis showed age and diabetes were significant predictors of risk of CVD with OR 1.29 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.42, p=0.001) and 25.9 (95% CI 2.14>312, p=0.01) respectively.

Conclusions: Raised antibody levels to Hsp-27 were associated only with age and hypertension.