Increased prevalence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae but not Epstein-Barr antibodies in essential hypertensives.

Conflicting data exist regarding the relationship between Chlamydophila pneunoniae (C. pneumoniae) and hypertension. In this study, both C. pneumoniae IgG and IgA titres and Epstein-Barr virus antibody levels were measured in 146 sustained hypertensives defined by 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and 54 normotensives. C. pneumoniae antibodies were measured by microimmunofluorescence test. IgG > or = 80 and IgA > or = 40 were defined as elevated antibody titres. Epstein-Barr antibodies were measured in order to investigate whether a possible association exists between hypertension and other, similarly widespread in the general population, intracellular microorganisms. All participants underwent casual blood pressure (BP) readings and 24 h ABPM. Subjects having mean 24 h systolic/diastolic ambulatory BP>125/80 mmHg, with or without antihypertensive medication were defined as hypertensives. Controls were free of any history or clinical evidence of hypertension, cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. Of the total participants, 77 hypertensives (52.7%) and 10 normotensives (18.5%) had IgA titres > or = 40 (crosstabs P < 0.000), whereas 76 hypertensives (52.1%) and 15 normotensives (27.8%) had IgG titres > or = 80, (crosstabs P < 0.002). No difference was found in Epstein-Barr antibodies, between hypertensives and normotensives. In conclusion, C. pneumoniae, but not Epstein-Barr, antibody levels were found significantly higher in sustained hypertensives, suggesting high frequency of chronic C. pneumoniae, infections in this specific group of patients.