Mortality rates from coronary heart disease are lower in Swedish men and among Finnish migrants who have lived in Sweden for over 20 years than in men living in Finland. Sero-epidemiological studies, investigations of atheromatous plaque specimens, in vitro animal models and anti-chlamydial antibiotic trials have given support to the hypothesis that Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) has a role in atherosclerosis. We investigated whether men with a similar genetic background but living permanently in Finland or Sweden have differences in the prevalence of Cpn seropositivity, and whether chronic Cpn infection is associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. We measured anti-Cpn antibodies and ultrasonographic markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, including carotid intima-media thickness, carotid artery compliance and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation, in a population of 76 migrant-discordant male twin pairs (152 men). The number of men with seropositivity to Cpn infection (defined as IgA⩾1:64 and IgG⩾1:128) was greater in Finland than in Sweden (21.5% compared with 10.5%; P=0.046). Cpn seropositivity accompanied by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (>1 mg/l) was associated with attenuated brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (3.3±0.3%, compared with 5.5±0.4% in men with no signs of Cpn infection; P<0.001).Thus, among Finnish twin brothers discordant for migration to Sweden, the prevalence of Cpn seropositivity is higher for those living in Finland, and men with Cpn seropositivity combined with elevated CRP levels had attenuated endothelial function. These findings offer insight into the mechanism whereby chronic Cpn infection may increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
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September 2003
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Research Article|
September 01 2003
Higher prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity in Finnish twins compared with co-twins living in Sweden: relationships with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis
Laura JARTTI;
Laura JARTTI
*Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Olli T. RAITAKARI;
Olli T. RAITAKARI
†PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
‡Department of Clinical Physiology, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland
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Mikko J. JÄRVISALO;
Mikko J. JÄRVISALO
§Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Niklas HAMMAR;
Niklas HAMMAR
‖Division of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
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Jaakko KAPRIO;
Jaakko KAPRIO
¶Department of Mental Health, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
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Markku KOSKENVUO;
Markku KOSKENVUO
**Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Jukka MARNIEMI;
Jukka MARNIEMI
††Research and Development Centre, Social Insurance Institution, Turku, Finland
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Pekka SAIKKU;
Pekka SAIKKU
‡‡Department of Microbiology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Tapani RÖNNEMAA
*Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Correspondence: Dr Tapani Rönnemaa, Department of Medicine, Turku University Central Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4–8, FIN-20520, Turku, Finland (e-mail tapani.ronnemaa@utu.fi).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 02 2003
Revision Received:
May 13 2003
Accepted:
May 14 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
May 14 2003
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2003 The Biochemical Society
2003
Clin Sci (Lond) (2003) 105 (3): 303–313.
Article history
Received:
January 02 2003
Revision Received:
May 13 2003
Accepted:
May 14 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
May 14 2003
Citation
Laura JARTTI, Olli T. RAITAKARI, Mikko J. JÄRVISALO, Niklas HAMMAR, Jaakko KAPRIO, Markku KOSKENVUO, Jukka MARNIEMI, Pekka SAIKKU, Tapani RÖNNEMAA; Higher prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity in Finnish twins compared with co-twins living in Sweden: relationships with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 September 2003; 105 (3): 303–313. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20030001
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