Background: To examine the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae (C
pneumoniae) seropositivity and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in
three selected groups: 1) hypertensives; 2) white coat hypertensives;
and 3) normotensives. Epstein-Barr antibodies were also measured.
Methods: The 340 participants underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure
(BP) monitoring, clinic BP measurements, ultrasound carotid
measurements, and serologic analysis (microimmunofluorescence and
ELISA).
Results: Significant differences in IMT were found between the three
groups, regarding both mean internal carotid artery (MICA) and mean
common carotid artery (MCCA) (one-way ANOVA). In all three groups, no
association was found between the carotid IMT and the C. pneumoniae or
Epstein-Barr seropositivity.
Conclusions: When the effect of BP is isolated, there is no association
between C. pneumoniae antibody levels and carotid IMT
