Chlamydia pneumoniae and Epstein-Barr antibodies are not associated with carotid thickness: the effect of hypertension

Abstract Background To examine the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) seropositivity and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in three selected groups: 1) hypertensives; 2) white coat hypertensives; and 3) normotensives. Epstein-Barr antibodies were also measured. Methods The 340 participants underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring, clinic BP measurements, ultrasound carotid measurements, and serologic analysis (microimmunofluorescence and ELISA). Results Significant differences in IMT were found between the three groups, regarding both mean internal carotid artery (MICA) and mean common carotid artery (MCCA) (one-way ANOVA). In all three groups, no association was found between the carotid IMT and the C. pneumoniae or Epstein-Barr seropositivity. Conclusions When the effect of BP is isolated, there is no association between C. pneumoniae antibody levels and carotid IMT.