Effect of prior exposure to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, or cytomegalovirus on the degree of inflammation and one-year prognosis of patients with unstable angina pectoris or non–q-wave acute myocardial infarction

Inflammation and chronic infections may be important features in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes. We describe 6 systemic markers of inflammation in patients with unstable angina or non–Q-wave myocardial infarction and the relations between these markers, seropositivity to chronic infections, and prognosis. C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A protein (SAA), fibrinogen, interleukin-6 (IL-6), neopterin, procalcitonin, and serum antibody levels to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and cytomegalovirus were measured on admission and 48 hours later. One-year clinical follow-up was performed. Plasma levels of acute phase reactants were all elevated on admission and increased further at 48 hours: CRP from 10.1 ± 2.1 mg/L at baseline to 26.6 ± 5.1 mg/L at 48 hours (p