METHODS: We examined the cross-sectional relationships of subclinical atherosclerosis - expressed by carotid intimal-medial thickness and coronary calcification - with antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis A virus, and pathogen burden (number of positive pathogens). A random sample of 1056 individuals chosen from 5030 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort participants were included. RESULTS: After multiple adjustment, no associations were found between atherosclerosis measures and either individual pathogens or pathogen burden. Interactions with inflammatory and endothelial function markers, demographic factors, BMI, high-density lipoprotein, diabetes, and smoking were also explored. The only interaction that was large, qualitative, statistically significant (P < 0.05) and in the expected direction was that between hepatitis A virus and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 with regard to Agatston calcium score: the difference between hepatitis A virus-positive and hepatitis A virus-negative participants was -186 units in participants with soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 below the median, and +162 units in those with soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 equal or above the median. However, given the number of interactions that were explored, these results must be interpreted cautiously. CONCLUSION: Findings from the present analyses do not provide support for an infectious etiology for subclinical atherosclerosis. However, the study's limitations, which include its cross-sectional design and insufficient statistical power, suggest that inferences from its findings should be made cautiously.
METHODS: We examined the cross-sectional relationships of subclinical atherosclerosis - expressed by carotid intimal-medial thickness and coronary calcification - with antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis A virus, and pathogen burden (number of positive pathogens). A random sample of 1056 individuals chosen from 5030 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohortparticipants were included. RESULTS: After multiple adjustment, no associations were found between atherosclerosis measures and either individual pathogens or pathogen burden. Interactions with inflammatory and endothelial function markers, demographic factors, BMI, high-density lipoprotein, diabetes, and smoking were also explored. The only interaction that was large, qualitative, statistically significant (P < 0.05) and in the expected direction was that between hepatitis A virus and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 with regard to Agatston calcium score: the difference between hepatitis A virus-positive and hepatitis A virus-negative participants was -186 units in participants with soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 below the median, and +162 units in those with soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 equal or above the median. However, given the number of interactions that were explored, these results must be interpreted cautiously. CONCLUSION: Findings from the present analyses do not provide support for an infectious etiology for subclinical atherosclerosis. However, the study's limitations, which include its cross-sectional design and insufficient statistical power, suggest that inferences from its findings should be made cautiously.
Authors: Ali I Ibrahim; Michel T Obeid; Muhidien J Jouma; Ghassan A Moasis; Wael L Al-Richane; Ingrid Kindermann; Michael Boehm; Klaus Roemer; Nikolaus Mueller-Lantzsch; Barbara C Gärtner Journal: J Clin Virol Date: 2005-01 Impact factor: 3.168
Authors: Kunihiro Matsushita; Yingying Sang; Shoshana H Ballew; Michael Shlipak; Ronit Katz; Sylvia E Rosas; Carmen A Peralta; Mark Woodward; Holly J Kramer; David R Jacobs; Mark J Sarnak; Josef Coresh Journal: J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2014-08-21 Impact factor: 10.121
Authors: Babray Laek; Moyses Szklo; Robyn L McClelland; Jingzhong Ding; Michael Y Tsai; David A Bluemke; Russell Tracy; Kunihiro Matsushita Journal: Atherosclerosis Date: 2013-08-07 Impact factor: 5.162
Authors: Russell P Tracy; Margaret F Doyle; Nels C Olson; Sally A Huber; Nancy S Jenny; Reem Sallam; Bruce M Psaty; Richard A Kronmal Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2013-05-20 Impact factor: 5.501