Seroprevalence ofChlamydia PneumoniaeAntibodies in Stroke in Young

Abstract

Background:Younger patients, aged below 45 years, usually lack the conventional risk factors of stroke whereas infections, especially in developing countries, may play a role. There have been many reports in the last decade about the association ofChlamydia pneumoniae(C.pneumoniae) and atherosclerosis involving cerebral vessels.Objective:To investigate the seroprevalence ofC.pneumoniaeIgG and IgA antibodies in patients aged below 45 years with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:This study was done at a tertiary care hospital in South India between January 2004 and December 2006 where we recruited consecutive patients aged less than 45years with acute ischemic stroke. Age and sex matched controls were recruited from the outpatient department with non stroke diagnosis. All stroke patients underwent CT (Computerized Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image), MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography), Transthoracic Echocardiography and Carotid Doppler for stroke sub group diagnosis. We measuredC.pneumoniaeantibodies IgG and IgA by microimmunofluorescence technique in all patients and controls.Results:A total of 120 patients and 120 controls were studied over a period of two years. We foundC.pneumoniaeantibodies in 29.1% (35/120) stroke patients and in 12.5% (15/120) control subjects (p=0.002).C.pneumoniaeIgG antibodies were found in 27.5 % (33/120) of stroke patients and 12.5% (15/120) of controls (p=0.006). IgAantibodies were observed in 5 % (6/120) of strokes and none in control group (p=0.03). After adjustment of all risk factorsC.pneumoniaeIgG seropositivity showed odds ratio of 2.6; 95% Confidence Interval 1.2-5.6.Conclusions:C.pneumoniaeIgG antibodies were found to be associated with ischemic stroke in young.