Su Jin Jeong1, Nam Su Ku1, Sang Hoon Han1, Jun Yong Choi1, Chang Oh Kim2, Young Goo Song1, June Myung Kim1. 1. Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cokim@yuhs.ac.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have implicated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection as a possible etiological factor in cardiovascular disease. We assessed whether anti-HCMV antibody levels are associated with carotid atherosclerosis and inflammatory cytokine production in elderly Koreans. METHODS: Participants (age, ≥65 years) were prospectively enrolled from September 2012 to July 2013 at a 2000-bed university hospital. During the study period, 71 participants (29 males) were prospectively enrolled, and thirty-five (49.3%) of these individuals were in the group designated as high intima-media thickness (IMT). RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed three independent risk factors of high IMT: higher levels of anti-HCMV antibody (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, p=0.003), Framingham score (OR 1.14, p=0.018), and levels of IL-1β (OR 2.96, p=0.013). Anti-HCMV antibody levels had a significantly positive correlation with max-IMT (r=0.523, p<0.001), free T4 levels (r=0.315, p=0.021), and Log(TNF-α) (r=0.562, p<0.001) in multivariate correlation analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may provide insight into the role of HCMV in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation in elderly individuals.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have implicated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection as a possible etiological factor in cardiovascular disease. We assessed whether anti-HCMV antibody levels are associated with carotid atherosclerosis and inflammatory cytokine production in elderly Koreans. METHODS:Participants (age, ≥65 years) were prospectively enrolled from September 2012 to July 2013 at a 2000-bed university hospital. During the study period, 71 participants (29 males) were prospectively enrolled, and thirty-five (49.3%) of these individuals were in the group designated as high intima-media thickness (IMT). RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed three independent risk factors of high IMT: higher levels of anti-HCMV antibody (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, p=0.003), Framingham score (OR 1.14, p=0.018), and levels of IL-1β (OR 2.96, p=0.013). Anti-HCMV antibody levels had a significantly positive correlation with max-IMT (r=0.523, p<0.001), free T4 levels (r=0.315, p=0.021), and Log(TNF-α) (r=0.562, p<0.001) in multivariate correlation analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may provide insight into the role of HCMV in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation in elderly individuals.