Frequency of Active Cytomegalovirus infection in Patients with STEMI

Introduction and Objectives: Various risk factors for the expression of coronary arteries have been reported, which the role of infections has been considered. ytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the viruses suspected of causing endothelial damage and one of the highest prevalence rates in human populations. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of active cytomegalovirus infection in patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infraction (STEMI). There are different ways to elucidate the acute and/or recurrent form of cytomegalovirus infection. In this study we have evaluated the presence of CMV specific IgM antibody in serum as a marker of acute or recurrent CMV infection. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted among patients admitted to Shahid Madani Hospital in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan. Overall one hundred patients were included in our study; test group (fifty patients with STEMI) and control group (fifty patients with STEMI with normal angiography). Blood samples from patients in both groups were examined for CMV IgM antibody titers and CRP levels. Serological markers were evaluated by using ELISA method. Results: 55 (55%) men and 45 (45%) of patients were female. The mean age of participants was 57 ± 1.3. In terms of CMV IgM antibody titer we have shown that sixteen percent of test group were positive, but only two percent of the control group were positive. Therefore, there was a significant CMV IgM level among test group patients (PV <0/05). Remarkably, 72 percent of patients in test group were CRP positive. Conclusion: Based on our data we could consider the possibility of association of the acute CMV infection in the process of the formation of coronary artery atherosclerosis, further research like the detection of the virus genome is needed to confirm the relationship between CMV and STEMI.

Keywords:

Frequency , Cytomegalovirus (CMV) , STEMI , CRP