In:
Circulation, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 103, No. 12 ( 2001-03-27), p. 1613-1617
Abstract:
Background — Chlamydia pneumoniae has been suggested to play a role in the origin of atherosclerosis. We studied the prevalence of C pneumoniae at multiple locations in the arterial system within the same individual. Studying the association between atherosclerosis and C pneumoniae within the individual excludes confounding by interindividual variability. Methods and Results —Postmortem, the presence in the intima/plaque and media of C pneumoniae membrane protein was determined by use of a C pneumoniae –specific monoclonal antibody. In 24 individuals, 33 arterial locations were studied (n=738 segments). Area stenosis was determined in adjacent cross sections. In all individuals, immunostaining of C pneumoniae was observed in ≥1 artery. The highest prevalences were observed in the abdominal aorta (67%), internal and common iliac arteries (41%), and coronary arteries (33%). The lowest prevalences were observed in the radial (0%) and cerebral (2%) arteries. Within the individual, area stenosis was larger in cross sections with immunoreactivity compared with cross sections without immunoreactivity (31.0±11.9% versus 14.3±6.1%, respectively; P 〈 0.001). In the individual, immunoreactivity was observed in 15±10% of the arteries (range, 3% to 45%). Between individuals, the percentage of arteries with immunoreactivity to C pneumoniae was associated with the average area stenosis throughout the arterial system ( r 2 =0.56, P 〈 0.001). Conclusions — C pneumoniae was mostly observed at locations that are related to clinically relevant features. Within the individual, the distribution of C pneumoniae is associated with the distribution of atherosclerosis. The role of the microorganism in atherosclerotic disease remains to be elucidated.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0009-7322
,
1524-4539
DOI:
10.1161/01.CIR.103.12.1613
Language:
English
Publisher:
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1466401-X
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