This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 25/4/827    most recent 01.ATV.0000158382.50942.6av1 Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Volanen, I. Articles by Simell, O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Volanen, I. Articles by Simell, O. Related Collections Pathophysiology Risk Factors Lipid and lipoprotein metabolism

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2005;25:827.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis & Lipoproteins

Serum Lipid Profiles Poorly Correlate With Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and Cytomegalovirus Seropositivity in Prospectively Followed-Up Healthy Children

Iina Volanen; Olli T. Raitakari; Raija Vainionpää; Martti Arffman; Johanna Aarnisalo; Susanna Anglé; Katariina Kallio; Olli Simell

From the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine (I.V., M.A., K.K., S.A.), the Departments of Pediatrics (I.V., K.K., O.S.), Clinical Physiology (O.T.R.), and Virology (R.V., J.A.), and Turku PET Centre (O.T.R.), University of Turku, Finland.

Correspondence to Iina Volanen, MD, Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland. E-mail iina.volanen{at}utu.fi

Objective— Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), Helicobacter pylori (Hp), and herpes virus infections have been associated with atherogenic serum lipid profile and an excess of cardiovascular events in adults. Because mechanisms leading to atherosclerosis are active since early childhood, we examined whether Cpn, Hp, or cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity relates to serum lipid, lipoprotein, or apolipoprotein concentrations in children. We also looked for factors increasing probability of Cpn seropositivity in children.

Methods and Results— Cpn-specific IgG and IgA, as well as Hp-specific and CMV-specific IgG antibodies were assessed by enzyme immunoassay in 199 apparently healthy children, followed-up from 7 to 11 years of age. Serum lipid profiles were studied at the ages of 7, 9, and 11 years using standard methods. Neither seroconversion to Cpn IgG or IgA antibody positivity nor persistent seropositivity for Cpn, Hp, or CMV was associated with proatherogenic serum lipid values. Children with siblings were more likely to possess Cpn antibodies than children without siblings (IgG: OR, 5.24; 95% CI, 1.63 to 16.82; IgA: OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.15 to 9.57).

Conclusions— These data suggest that contrary to the observations in adults, Cpn, Hp, and CMV seropositivity in otherwise healthy children is not associated with disturbances in serum lipid profile.

Because infections have been associated with atherogenic lipid profiles in adults and because atherosclerotic process begins in early childhood, we examined whether Cpn, Hp, or CMV seropositivity is associated with serum lipids in otherwise healthy children. Antibody positivity correlated poorly with lipids, suggesting that other pathways link infection and early atherosclerosis.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • Chlamydia pneumoniae • cytomegalovirus • Helicobacter pylori • lipids

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. Volanen, M. J. Jarvisalo, R. Vainionpaa, M. Arffman, K. Kallio, S. Angle, T. Ronnemaa, J. Viikari, J. Marniemi, O. T. Raitakari, et al. Increased Aortic Intima-Media Thickness in 11-Year-Old Healthy Children With Persistent Chlamydia pneumoniae Seropositivity Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, March 1, 2006; 26(3): 649 - 655. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]