Evidence of type 2 herpes simplex infection in human coronary arteries at the time of coronary artery bypass surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To examine histologically biopsies from the coronary arteries of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for evidence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) antigen and to correlate the incidence with pathological and clinical data.


METHODS
Sequential patients undergoing CABG in whom adequate tissue could be obtained for histology.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Forty-six patients were enrolled. Thirty-one provided sufficient tissue and clinical information for the analysis.


METHODS
Biopsy material was collected in the operating room and prepared immediately for histology and electron microscopy. Slides were prepared by staining with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, avidin biotin complex immunoperoxidase for HSV-1 and HSV-2 protein and specific DNA probes for HSV-1 and HSV-2 by hybridization. Clinical data were obtained in structured interviews.


RESULTS
Sixty-one per cent of biopsies demonstrated evidence of inflammation, 45% were positive for antigen to HSV-2 and only one to HSV-1. Significant positive correlations were detected between inflammatory cells in the biopsy and a recent history of cold sores and between the presence of the infiltrate and positivity to HSV-2 antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
A correlation exists between HSV-2 infection and the inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis.
Department of Pathology, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
A
A
Raza-Ahmad
G A
GA
Klassen
D A
DA
Murphy
J A
JA
Sullivan
C E
CE
Kinley
R W
RW
Landymore
J R
JR
Wood
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015342:DNA Probes