Anti-VZV IgG antibody and hs CRP levels correlate with progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis

Background and Objectives: The relationship between high levels of anti-Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) IgG antibody in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis commends a possible similar association in other vessels. We aimed to investigate the association of VZV-seropositivity with coronary artery atherosclerosis.Materials and Methods: We recruited 88 newly diagnosed patients with more than 50% stenosis in at least one of the main coronary arteries. As the control group, 99 age-matched individuals with normal/insignificant coronary artery findings were included. Clinical, paraclinical and demographical data were gathered at the time of sampling. High sensitivity (hs) CRP levels were measured by nephelometry. VZV-seropositivity was determined by measuring of anti-VZV IgG antibody level in plasma. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the correlation of data with coronary vascular atherosclerosis. Results: The frequency of VZV-seropositivity was significantly higher in the atherosclerosis group compared to the controls (OR=1.88; 95%CI=1.03-3.44). The plasma levels of anti-VZV IgG antibody were significantly higher in patients with atherosclerosis (Median=2.70, IQR=1.53-4.30 AU/mL) than in the controls (Median=2.10, IQR=1.70-3.10 AU/mL, p=0.034). HsCRP levels in patients and controls were 5.19±2.00 and 1.51±1.07 mg/L, respectively. A correlation between hsCRP and anti-VZV IgG antibody level in plasma was observed (r=0.40, p<0.001). The levels of hsCRP and anti-VZV IgG antibody increased based on the number of diseased vessels but only the difference in hsCRP levels reached a significant level (p<0.001 and p=0.168, respectively). Conclusion: Our data suggest that VZV-seropositivity and hsCRP elevation jointly increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Multifactorial nature of atherosclerosis, however, leaves more options for the inflammatory milieu to be generated.