Non-detectable Chlamydophila pneumoniae DNA in peripheral leukocytes in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with and without carotid atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

To study Chlamydophila pneumoniae DNA (CP-DNA) in leukocytes measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) with different degrees of atherosclerosis, a cross-sectional protocol was performed.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We included 135 patients with DM2. Clinical, metabolic and inflammatory variables were measured. Previous clinical macrovascular disease was recorded and carotid ultrasound and real-time PCR for CP-DNA were performed.

RESULTS

Mean age was 62 (7) years and mean diabetes duration 16 (9) years; 40.7% of patients presented clinical atherosclerosis, 32.5% subclinical atherosclerosis and 26.6% no evidence of atherosclerosis. Anthropometric data were homogeneous in the three groups. Patients with clinical atherosclerosis had greater carotid intima-media thickness compared to the other two groups. No CP-DNA was detected in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of detection of CP-DNA in blood leukocytes suggests that C. pneumoniae plays no active, systemic role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in DM2 patients and is not a reliable marker of atherosclerosis in high-risk patients.