Autoimmunity to human heat shock protein 60 and its possible relation to chlamydia pneumoniae infection in the development of coronary atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic immuno-inflammatory disease in which both oxidized lipids and infectious agents are incriminated as possible contributors. Recent evidence has suggested an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary atherosclerosis. Heat shock proteins [HSPs] have also been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis by induction of an autoimmune process. The study was carried out to highlight the possible role of these autoantibodies in the development of atherosclerosis and evaluate their possible association with chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in young patients with severe coronary artery disease [CAD]. The study included 85 individuals attending the outpatient clinic of Nasr City Insurance Hospital. They were divided into two groups; the first group included 65 middle-aged [32 - 50 years old] non-diabetic males suffering from stable angina and having angiographic evidence of CAD [CAD group], and the second group included 20 similar male patients but with no angiographic evidence of CAD [non-CAD group]. All patients were subjected to complete history taking, thorough physical examination as well as measurement of their blood pressure. Sera was obtained from each patient and divided into 2 aliquots; for the measurement of human HSP60 antibody levels and the detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG antibodies by the ELISA technique. Serum human HSP60 antibody levels and Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG seropositivity percentage were significantly higher in the CAD group compared to the non-CAD group [p < 0.001]. Significantly higher levels of serum human HSP60 antibodies were found with hypertension as well as with age [p < 0.05]. However there was no correlation between the antibody levels of serum human HSP60 and Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG seropositivity within the CAD group [p = 0.375]. In conclusion, high levels of human HSP60 antibodies and chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection might be independent risk factors in the development of coronary atherosclerosis

Assessment of parameters of blood viscosity in diabetic patients with and without vascular complications

Diabetic microangiopathy is closely related to metabolic and microcirculatory abnormalities which are secondary to hemorrheological abnormalities. Increased blood viscosity is also an important factor for the occurrence of coronary heart disease in diabetic patients. In this work various parameters of hyperviscosity were studied including hematocrit value, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen fasting and post prandial blood sugar, in 20 diabetic patients with macro-vascular complications [coronary heart disease], 35 diabetic with micro-vascular complications [retinopathy]. Significant increase in hematocrit, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, fasting and post increase in hematocrit, blood sugar in diabetics compared to healthy controls. Comparison was highly significant concerning those diabetics with vascular complications. Hematocrit plasma viscosity and whole blood viscosity were highest in the group of diabetic patients with microvascular complications. On the other hand, highest fibrinogen levels were noticed mainly in the diabetic group with macro-vascular complications [coronary heart disease]

Study of plasma lipoproteins in patients with ischaemic heart diseases under beta-adrenoceptor blockade

In this study the effect of propranolol on total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, and apolipoprotein A and B in 30 patients with IHD with or without hypertension in comparison to 10 control patients with I.H.D not receiving B Blockers. Our results demonstrated that: Propranolol caused significant increase in very low density lipoprotein and triglycerides levels. Propranolol caused insignificant decrease in high density lipoprotein. Insignificant increase in apoprotein B/apoprotein A ratio. The above changes in these variants may increase the risk of ischaemic heart disease

Estimation of zinc levels in advanced liver cirrhosis

Thirty cases were studied in this work. All of them had advanced liver cirrhosis with ascites and 12 cases had history of recurrent hematemesis. For all the cases estimation of plasma and ascitic proteins including albumin and alpha-2-globulins, zinc estimation in serum, urine, R.B.C, ascitic fluid, hair and nails was done by the atomic absorption spectro-photometric method. Results showed marked and proportionate decrease in both serum and ascitic fluid zinc, together with an increased zinc load in urine. These changes were maximal in cases with advanced liver failure and in cases with tense ascites. Also there was marked decrease in R.B.C. and nail zinc, which was more marked in cases with recurrent hematemesis. Hair zinc was only markedly low in cases with advanced liver failure. Absence of correlation between ascitic zinc level and the level of its carrier protein, but a positive correlation to its serum level was detected