Association of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection With Ischemic Heart Diseases

Abstract

Association of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease well known main pathophysiologic basis for Ischemic Heart Diseases and Myocardial Infarction and due to major risk factors such as high plasma level of low density lipoprotein, low plasma level of high density lipoprotein, cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, infection with few infectious agents such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae that might associated with atherosclerosis consider as another risk factor for ischemic heart diseases. Aim of this study is to investigate the role of this organism and its association to the risk of exposure to Mycoplasma pneumonia infection for ischemic heart diseases in Saudi population. This was a case-control study in which 96 patients studied and they were in two groups: first group (or case group), include 48 units patients who had been admitted in hospital by diagnosis of Ischemic Heart Diseases including Unstable angina and Myocardial Infarction (STEMI, NSTEMI) and second group (or control group), include 48 healthy units patients who had no modifiable risk factors history of Ischemic Heart Disease and they matched by first group, for age index. IgG antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae was assessed by ELISA technique in both groups. In the case group, 15 cases out of 48 and in control group 3 out 48 were positive for antimycoplasma antibody and in both groups. There was significant statistic difference in antimycoplasma antibody level. In the groups (p = 0.004) and the relative risk of mycoplasma infection for Ischemic heart diseases estimated to be 5. It seems that Mycoplasm pneumoniae infection is a risk factor for Ischemic Heart Disease, in Saudi population. This is the first report study of such a disease in Saudi Arabia.Further studies will needed to evalute the risk of coinfection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae and also better to evalute the effects of the risk of these infection and conventional risk factors for Ischemic Heart Disease in this country.