Chlamydia pneumoniae and stroke: is there a direct relationship?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible relationship between atherothrombotic stroke and Chlamydia pneumoniae.


METHODS
150 patients with carotid atherothrombosis were enrolled. The casuistic was divided in three groups: ischemic stroke (IS): 65 patients; transient ischemic attack (TIA): 26 patients; and control: 59. The IS or TIA onset was up to 30 days from the beginning of the study. Carotid atheromatoses was diagnosed by Doppler-ultrasonography. Patients with cardioembolic risk or non-atherothrombotic origin were excluded. Comparisons were done between the three groups, and within each group according to the different age sub-groups, to the main arteries affected, and to the atherogenic risk factors. Bacteria detection was done using polimerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Only one patient tested positive for C. pneumoniae belonging to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results do not suggest that C. pneumoniae participated in the onset of IS or TIA or that it has a role in carotid plaque destabilization.
Gagliardi
Rubens J
RJ
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. rubensjg@apm.org.br
Caiaffa-Filho
Helio H
HH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000382:microbiology*