[The relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerotic lesions of the aorta]

Although atherogenic main factors have been extensively studied, there are others whose real importance has not been well defined. There are some pathologic and immunologic evidences relating several infectious agents with the genesis or development of coronary atherosclerosis. Recently, a link has been established between Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherogenesis, due to immunological evidence of infection in human atherosclerotic lesions. We studied 16 aortic specimens obtained from necropsies performed in subjects who died with coronary heart disease. The infection of Ch. pneumoniae was determined by means of an immunofluorescent technique using a specific monoclonal murine antibody. A positive reaction was found in advanced non-ulcerated fibrolipid lesions in just 2 patients (13%), according with several other observations. It is not known the true relationship between the chlamydia infection and atherogenesis, neither if the infection starts or aggravates the atherosclerotic process or if it is an independent phenomenon.