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Specificity of detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in cardiovascular atheroma
L A Jackson1, L A Campbell, R A Schmidt
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101-1448, USA.
Insights
Chlamydia pneumoniae is often found in heart plaque. This study found it less frequently in other tissues, suggesting it prefers cardiovascular sites.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae is frequently detected in atherosclerotic plaque.
- The prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in non-cardiovascular tissues is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of Chlamydia pneumoniae detection in both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular tissues.
- To investigate the tissue tropism of Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Main Methods:
- Archival autopsy tissue specimens from 38 patients (cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular sites) were analyzed.
- Polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry were used to detect Chlamydia pneumoniae.
- 33 surgical granuloma biopsy specimens were also tested.
Main Results:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae was most frequently detected in coronary artery tissue (34%).
- The organism was also detected in lung (13%), liver (10%), spleen (5%), bone marrow (10%), and lymph node (8%) specimens.
- Chlamydia pneumoniae was found in 3 out of 33 granuloma specimens.
Conclusions:
- Chlamydia pneumoniae shows a tropism for cardiovascular tissues.
- The organism may not be widely distributed or may not persist chronically in non-cardiovascular tissues.
Abstract:
Chlamydia pneumoniae is commonly detected in atherosclerotic plaque but the frequency of detection in non-cardiovascular (CV) tissues has not been well determined. In this study, archival autopsy tissue specimens from both CV and non-CV sites from 38 patients were tested by polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry to detect C. pneumoniae. In addition, 33 surgical granuloma biopsy specimens were also tested. C. pneumoniae was detected most frequently in coronary artery tissue (34%) but was also detected in specimens from lung (13%), liver (10%), spleen (5%), bone marrow (10%), and lymph node (8%). The organism was detected in 3 of 33 granuloma specimens. These findings suggest that C. pneumoniae demonstrates a tropism for CV tissues and is either not widely distributed to non-CV tissues or does not persist chronically in those tissues after initial infection.