ABSTRACT
This study was conducted on 40 patients; 18 with acute coronary syndrome [ACS] [group 1] and 22 with chronic coronary heart disease [CHD] [group 2]. Fifteen healthy age- and sex-matched subjects were taken as controls. CPn [Chlamydia pneumoniae] DNA was detected by a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction [PCR] technique using primers derived from outer membrane protein gene [ompl]. The serological assay of CPn-IgG antibodies was determined by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Serum homocysteine was also measured by an enzyme conversion immunoassay method. In conclusion, patients with CHD, particularly ACS, have a high prevalence of CPn infection than the healthy controls. Besides, CPn DNA detection is more sensitive than the serological tests in identifying subjects with current infection. The contribution of CPn infection in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is independent of the other conventional atherogenic risk factors