OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and symptomatic atherosclerosis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Peritoneal Dialysis Unit of Kingston General Hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-five prevalent PD patients. OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Infection with C. pneumoniae diagnosed by detection of DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using polymerase chain reaction. (2) Symptomatic atherosclerosis involving the coronary, cerebral, or peripheral circulation. RESULTS: The DNA of C. pneumoniae was detected in PBMCs in 33 patients (60.0%). Atherosclerosis was present in 16 of 33 (48%) PBMC C. pneumoniae DNA-positive patients, and in 10 of 22 (45%) PBMC C. pneumoniae DNA-negative patients (p = 0.83). Using multiple logistic regression and controlling for a number of known cardiovascular risk factors, PBMC C. pneumoniae DNA status was not predictive of atherosclerosis. The only significant independent predictors of atherosclerosis were diabetes and age. CONCLUSIONS: In prevalent PD patients, a high prevalence of symptomatic atherosclerosis and of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in PBMCs were seen; however, the results of the present study do not support the presence of an association between infection with C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis.

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