Human parvovirus b19 infection in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
The identification of possible pathogens for an infectious etiology of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) is an expanding field. The present study was undertaken to explore the role of parvovirus B19, a potent infectious agent.


METHODS
A total of 565 patients were analyzed (90 patients with CAD, and 475 controls). Serologic analysis for human paravovirus B19 (B19) specific IgM and IgG was carried out in all patients. In addition, tissue specimens were obtained from five patients who received heart transplants. Direct in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunocytochemistry were performed in the samples to localize B19 DNA.


RESULTS
Enzyme immunoassay showed that the seropositive rate of anti-B19 IgG in patients with CAD was 1.5- to 2.7-fold more frequent than in healthy controls. Clinical characteristics did not affect the prevalence of seropositivity for B19. However, anti-B19 IgM and B19-specific DNA were not detected in healthy or individuals with CAD. Furthermore, nonradioactive in situ PCR found that the majority of B19-specific DNA was located in the endothelial cells of the thickened intima.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results first demonstrate a seroepidemiological and histopathological association between chronic B19 infection and CAD, suggesting that B19 infection may have a potential role in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis.
Liu
Shih-Chi
SC
Min-Sheng Hospital, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Tsai
Chia-Ti
CT
Wu
Cho-Kai
CK
Yu
Meng-Fen
MF
Wu
Mu-Zon
MZ
Lin
Liang-In
LI
Wang
Shoei-Shen
SS
Hwang
Juey-Jen
JJ
Tseng
Yung-Zu
YZ
Chiang
Fu-Tien
FT
Tseng
Chuen-Den
CD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D001158:Arteries / Q000821:virology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M