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Thromb Haemost 2000; 83(06): 887-891
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613938
Commentary
Schattauer GmbH

Demonstration of an Association between Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection and Venous Thromboembolic Disease

Olivier Lozinguez
1   From Service de Médecine Vasculaire et centre Claude Bernard de recherche sur les maladies vasculaires, Service de Microbiologie and INSERM U428, U430 and U525, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France
,
Emmanuel Arnaud
1   From Service de Médecine Vasculaire et centre Claude Bernard de recherche sur les maladies vasculaires, Service de Microbiologie and INSERM U428, U430 and U525, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France
,
Laurent Belec
1   From Service de Médecine Vasculaire et centre Claude Bernard de recherche sur les maladies vasculaires, Service de Microbiologie and INSERM U428, U430 and U525, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France
,
Viviane Nicaud
1   From Service de Médecine Vasculaire et centre Claude Bernard de recherche sur les maladies vasculaires, Service de Microbiologie and INSERM U428, U430 and U525, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France
,
Martine Alhenc-Gelas
1   From Service de Médecine Vasculaire et centre Claude Bernard de recherche sur les maladies vasculaires, Service de Microbiologie and INSERM U428, U430 and U525, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France
,
Jean-Noël Fiessinger
1   From Service de Médecine Vasculaire et centre Claude Bernard de recherche sur les maladies vasculaires, Service de Microbiologie and INSERM U428, U430 and U525, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France
,
Martine Aiach
1   From Service de Médecine Vasculaire et centre Claude Bernard de recherche sur les maladies vasculaires, Service de Microbiologie and INSERM U428, U430 and U525, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France
,
Joseph Emmerich
1   From Service de Médecine Vasculaire et centre Claude Bernard de recherche sur les maladies vasculaires, Service de Microbiologie and INSERM U428, U430 and U525, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France
› Author AffiliationsThe study was supported by INSERM and Centre Claude Bernard de Recherche sur les maladies vasculaires.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 01 October 1999

Accepted after resubmission 14 January 2000

Publication Date:
14 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been linked to atherosclerosis, but a possible relationship with venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been sought. We determined circulating anti-C. pneumoniae antibody levels in patients with VTE. We studied 176 case patients with objectively diagnosed VTE and 197 age-and sex-matched healthy controls, in a retrospective study. Acquired risk factors for VTE and frequent predisposing genetic factors (factor V Arg 506 Gln and factor II G 20210 A mutations) were assessed in all the subjects. Anti-C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies were determined by microimmunofluorescence. All positive plasma samples (titer ≥128) were precisely quantified and tested for the presence of specific IgM antibodies. Fiftyfour percent of the cases and 15.9% of the controls had specific IgG titers of at least 256 (p <0.0001). The crude odds ratio for VTE was 6.2 (95% CI, 3.8-10.1), and rose to 7.7 (4.5-13.2) after excluding subjects carrying the factor V Arg 506 Gln or factor II G 20210 A mutations. The odds ratio for VTE increased with the IgG titer: the adjusted odds ratios were 2.1 (95% CI, 1.1-4.1), 5.3 (2.7-10.6) and 33.0 (4.4-248.4) for titers of 256, 512 and 1024, respectively. Only one subject (a case patient) with a high IgG titer (≥256) also had specific IgM. High titers of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies are frequently found in patients with previous venous thromboembolism. This association deserves to be confirmed in other case-control studies and prospective studies.

All authors have reviewed the manuscript and agree with its content.

Keywords

Deep vein thrombosis - pulmonary embolism - venous thromboembolism - chlamydia pneumoniae - thrombosis
 

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