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

Abstract

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.