ABSTRACT

This prospective study has been carried out to investigate whether Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity is a risk factor for ischemic stroke.

The sera of thirty patients who had acute ischemic stroke and 30 healhty participants were analysed with microimmunofluorescence (MIF) for C. pneumoniae IgG, IgM, IgA antibodies. Risk factors for stroke, clinical findings,laboratory results and radiologic examinations were recorded. Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test and Fisher’s certain probability tests were used for statistical analysis. Odds ratios were calculated.

Mean age of the patients was 60.43±15.87 (15 male, 15 female). In 56.7% of the patients with stroke and in 66.7% of the healthy participants, IgG seropositivity was determined in 1/32 titrations. No significant difference was determined between the two groups (p>0.05, OR=0.65). There was also no significant difference in other titrations between groups (p>0.05). IgM seropositivity was determined in 1/16 titrations within 3.3% (1/30) of both patient and healthy population (p=0.5, OR=1). There was no IgA seropositivity in ischemic stroke patients but in 1/16 titration, 3.3% (1/30) positivity was determined within the control group (p=0.50). There was no significant relation between risk factors and IgG seropositivity in the patient group (p>0.05). Stroke subtypes had significant differences with 1/16 IgG titration (p<0.05).

This study showed that C. pneumoniae is not a risk factor for ischemic stroke. Wide population prospective studies are needed to show the relation between atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke. (JAREM 2012; 2: 15-9)

Keywords: Ischemic stroke, Chlamydia pneumoniae, atherosclerosis, infection, risk factors, microimmunofluorescence method