title: Detection of herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus DNA in atherosclerotic plaques and in unaffected bypass grafts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes virus infections are suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Viral DNA of herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) was analyzed by real-time PCR on 48 biopsies from atherosclerotic plaques extracted by end-arterectomy (46 coronary arteries, 2 carotid arteries), and in tissue from non-atherosclerosis vessels from the same patient as controls (23 internal mammary arteries, 43 saphenous veins).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HSV-1 DNA was detected significantly more frequently in plaques (35%) than in control veins (9%, P = 0.006). However, the frequency of HSV-1 DNA detection in the internal mammary artery grafts was as high as in plaques (22%, P = 0.28). CMV and EBV DNA were exclusively found in plaques but not in controls, with 10% for CMV (P = 0.06 versus veins, P = 0.17 versus graft arteries) and 2% for EBV (P = 1.0), respectively. HSV-2 was neither detected in plaques nor in controls. Herpes viral DNA was significantly associated only with arterial hypertension but not with other classical risk factors (P = 0.02), in accordance with the hypothesis that herpes viral infection may alter the vessel wall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that herpes viral infections may have a role in atherosclerosis and that the presence of herpes viral DNA in the grafts used for bypass surgery might constitute a potential risk for atherosclerosis or restenosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Damascus, Syria.
authors.forename: Ali I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Michel T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Obeid
authors.forename: Muhidien J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jouma
authors.forename: Ghassan A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Moasis
authors.forename: Wael L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Al-Richane
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kindermann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mueller-Lantzsch
authors.forename: Barbara C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Gärtner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000821:virology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019737:Transplants
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral