ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) and atherosclerosis can be regarded as two manifestations of the same pathological process. The study aim was to evaluate annually the plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in AVS patients, and to compare these data in AVS patients with and without high IgG, IgM, and IgA titers against Chlamydia pneumoniae. METHODS: Sixty patients with AVS who had declined the offer of remedial surgery were allocated to groups according to their antibody titers: group A (n=30, high IgG titer), group B (n=30, low IgG titer), group C (n=22, high IgA titer), group D (n=38, low IgA titer), group E (n=7, high IgM titer), and group F (n=53, low IgM titer) Antibody titers, serum levels of inflammatory markers and echocardiographic scans were monitored at 12-month intervals. RESULTS: During a one-year observation period, a greater number of patients in group A showed AVS deterioration compared to group B (p < 0.02). The mean IgA and IgM titers in group A were higher than in group B, while mean serum CRP and IL-6 levels, and IgG titer, tended to be higher in group C compared to group D. No statistically significant differences were identified in mean serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNFalpha between groups A and B. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggested a possible association between C. pneumoniae infection and the progression of AVS.
