Previous studies have linked essential sustained hypertension with
Chlamydia pneumoniae (C pneumoniae) and changes in intima-media
thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries. The aim of this study was to
examine if similar associations exist in subjects with white-coat
hypertension. C pneumoniae IgA and IgG antibody titers were measured in
125 patients with white-coat hypertension and 54 normotensives. All
participants underwent a 24 h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring,
clinic BP readings and common-internal carotid artery IMT measurements.
Seventy subjects of the white-coat group (56%) and 15 of the control
group (27.8%) had IgG titers greater than or equal to 80 (crosstabs; P
< 0.001). IgA titers were elevated in 75 subjects of the white-coat
group (60%) and 10 (18.5%) of the control group (crosstabs; P <
0.001). The IMT of the carotid arteries in the white-coat group was
significantly higher than that of the normotensive group (t-test; P <
0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). In contrast, carotid IMT did not
differ between C pneumoniae-seropositive and C pneumoniae-seronegative
groups concerning both IgG and IgA antibody titers. Our findings suggest
that both C pneumoniae antibody titers and carotid IMT were increased in
subjects with white-coat hypertension. The preceding associations
strengthen prior evidence in favor of the opinion that white-coat
hypertension is not an innocent phenomenon. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science
Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
