title: Coinfection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in ruptured plaques associated with acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study atheromas, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae), and Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae).
  
  
  METHODS
  C. pneumoniae was studied with immunohistochemistry and M. pneumoniae with in situ hybridization (ISH), in segments of coronary arteries (SCA) as follows: group A - thrombosed ruptured plaques (TRP) of 23 patients who died due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI); group B - 23 nonruptured plaques (NRP) of group A patients; group C - NRP of 11 coronary patients who did not die due to AMI; and group D - 11 SCA from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or Chagas' disease without atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of C. pneumoniae+ cells/400x in groups A, B, C, and D was, respectively, 3.3 +/- 3.6; 1.0 +/- 1.3; 1.2 +/- 2.4; and 0.4 +/- 0.3; and the percentage of M. pneumoniae area was, respectively, 3.9 +/- 3.5; 1.5 +/- 1.6; 0.9 +/- 0.9; and 0.4 +/- 0.2. More M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae were found in of group A than in group B (P<0.01). Good correlation was seen between the area of the vessel and the M. pneumoniae area in the plaque (r = 0.46; P=0.001) and between C. pneumoniae+ cells and CD4+ T lymphocytes (r = 0.42; P<0.01). The number of C. pneumoniae+ cells correlated with CD20+ B cells (r=0.48; P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae are more frequently found in TRP correlate with the intensity of the inflammation and diameter of the vessel (positive remodeling).
authors.affiliation: Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. amplourdes@incor.usp.br
authors.forename: Maria de Lourdes
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Marcia Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Nádia Vieira
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Sambiase
authors.forename: Suely Aparecida Pinheiro
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Palomino
authors.forename: Jussara Bianchi
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: Paulo Sampaio
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Vera Demarchi
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: José Antonio Franchini
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramires
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000382:microbiology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous