Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the Atherosclerotic Tissue by Immunohistochemistry / 대한임상병리학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae is an important pathogen to cause approximately 5-10% of community-acquired respiratory infections and has been recently reported as a tentative causative agent of atherosclerosis in western countries. Considering that the most common cause of death is cerebral artery disease and coronary heart disease in Korea, we attempted to elucidate C. pneumoniae in atheromatous plaques. METHODS: Twenty-eight cases of atherectomy from 1996 to 1998, which included 20 patients with cerebral artery stenosis, two patients with carotid artery stenosis and six patients with coronary artery stenosis were prepared for immunohistochemistry to demonstrate C. pneumoniae. The Coronary arteries from 35 cadavers obtained were also stained with chlamydia genus-specific and C. pneumoniae-specific monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Eighteen of 20(90%) of cerebral artery stenosis, one of two of carotid artery stenosis and all six cases of coronary artery stenosis were positive for C. pneumoniae. Thirteen over 35(37.1%) cadavers presented arterial stenosis, while eight cases(61.5%) were positive for C. pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report demonstrating C. pneumoniae in atheroma in Korea. In regard of the high positive rate of C. pneumoniae(89.3%) in cases of atherosclerosis, C. pneumoniae might be closely associated with atherosclerosis in Korea.