Effect of filarial infection on serum inflammatory and atherogenic biomarkers in coronary artery disease (CURES-121).

Aravindhan, V.; Mohan, V.; Surendar, J.; Muralidhara Rao, M.; Anuradha, R.; Deepa, M.; Babu, S.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; 2012; 86; 828 -833.

Abstract: Helminth infections can potentially confer protection against metabolic disorders, possibly through immunomodulation. In this study, the baseline prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) among subjects without (N = 236) and with (N = 217) coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined as part of the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES). The prevalence of LF was not significantly different between CAD^- and CAD⁺ subjects. The LF antigen load and antibody levels indicated comparable levels of infection and exposure between the groups. Within the CAD group, LF⁺and LF^- subjects had no significant difference in the intimal medial thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values. However, LF infection was associated with augmented levels of tumor necrosis factor- a and interleukin-6 among CAD⁺ subjects. The LF infection had no effect on serum adipocytokine profile. In conclusion, unlike type-2 diabetes, there is no association between the prevalence of LF and CAD and also no evidence of protective immunomodulation of LF infection on CAD in the Asian Indian population.

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