Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling
08:25

Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling

Published on: April 7, 2015

Chlamydia pneumoniae and stroke: is there a direct relationship?

Rubens J Gagliardi1, Helio H Caiaffa-Filho

  • 1Faculty of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. rubensjg@apm.org.br

Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|September 2, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This study found no evidence that Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is linked to atherothrombotic stroke or carotid plaque instability. Researchers did not detect a significant association between the bacteria and ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Atherothrombotic stroke is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.
  • The role of infectious agents, such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, in atherogenesis and stroke is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if Chlamydia pneumoniae is associated with atherothrombotic stroke.
  • To investigate the potential role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in carotid plaque destabilization.

Main Methods:

  • 150 patients with carotid atherothrombosis were categorized into ischemic stroke (IS), transient ischemic attack (TIA), and control groups.
  • Carotid atheromatosis was diagnosed via Doppler-ultrasonography; patients with cardioembolic or non-atherothrombotic causes were excluded.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Main Results:

  • Only one patient in the control group tested positive for Chlamydia pneumoniae.
  • No significant correlation was observed between Chlamydia pneumoniae presence and atherothrombotic stroke or TIA.
  • The bacterium was not detected in patients with carotid plaque destabilization.

Conclusions:

  • The findings do not support a role for Chlamydia pneumoniae in the onset of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.
  • Chlamydia pneumoniae does not appear to be implicated in the destabilization of carotid plaques based on this study.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness12:21

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

Published on: September 28, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae01:29

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...