[Presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the carotid artery].
There is growing experimental evidence that Chlamydia pneumoniae is a risk factor and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis of carotid artery. This process might cause stenosis of carotid artery and TIA or stroke.


OBJECTIVE
Aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Ch. pneumoniae infection in carotid artery stenosis patients and in control group-healthy artery from multiorgan donors.


METHODS
From each of 84 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy the samples were analyzed by nested PCR for Ch. pneumoniae DNA. Furthermore we determined DNA Ch. pneumoniae in carotid artery from 20 multiorgan donors.


RESULTS
In control group-healthy artery the PCR for Ch. pneumoniae was negative in all samples. Ch. pneumoniae was detected in 57 patients (67.85%) with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, however in 27 patients (32.15%) the PCR test was negative.


CONCLUSIONS
We did not observe infection of Ch. pneumoniae in healthy carotid artery-control group. We noted great frequency of infection in patients with stenosis of carotid artery. Patients with stenosis of carotid artery can be candidates to antibiotic therapy, which can slow down the progression of artery stenosis.
Janczak
Dariusz
D
Klinika Chirurgii Naczyniowej, Ogólnej i Transplantacyjnej AM we Wrocławiu.
Skóra
Jan
J
Pupka
Artur
A
Patrzałek
Dariusz
D
Korta
Krzysztof
K
Pawłowski
Stanisław
S
Ruciński
Artur
A
Szyber
Piotr
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004269:DNA, Bacterial