Chronic bacterial and viral infection exacerbation as a possible risk factor for acute coronary syndrome development in coronary heart disease patients

Abstract

Aim. To identify new, non-traditional risk and precipitating factors, that, combined with chronic chlamydial and viral infection, could provoke coronary atherosclerosis destabilization and acute coronary crise development. Material and methods. In total, 66 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients were examined, who had stable effort angina or acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and were sero-positive for Chl. Pneumoniae, HSV-I, CMV and EBV viruses. Control group included 20 sero-negative CHD patients. Serological status was determined by ELISA immuno-enzyme method. Results. Triad of plasma markers: C-reactive protein (CRP), МВ-creatine kinase, and lipid hydroperoxide activity – was identified, that can be used, together with serological status data, for more effective ACS diagnostics. Conclusion. Recurrent infection might play a role as one of the triggers for chronic CHD transformation into its acute or instable forms.

Keywords

• acute coronary syndrome
• specific immunoglobulins
• lipid hydroperoxide
• chronic chamydial and herpetic infection