Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA Detection in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Is Predictive of Vascular Infection

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 180; no. 6; pp. 2074 - 2076
• Main Authors: Blasi, Francesco, Boman, Jens, Esposito, Gloria, Melissano, Germano, Chiesa, Roberto, Cosentini, Roberto, Tarsia, Paolo, Tshomba, Yamume, Betti, Monia, Alessi, Marinella, Morelli, Nicoletta, Allegra, Luigi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.12.1999; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aorta, Abdominal - microbiology; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - microbiology; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - surgery; Aortic Diseases - diagnosis; Aortic Diseases - microbiology; Arteries; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis. Bacterial diseases of the aorta, limb vessels and lymphatic vessels; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular diseases; Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis; Chlamydia pneumoniae; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Chlamydophila pneumoniae - genetics; Chlamydophila pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Concise Communications; DNA; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Female; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - genetics; Helicobacter pylori - isolation & purification; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - microbiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycoplasma pneumoniae - genetics; Mycoplasma pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Predictive Value of Tests; Predisposing factors; Serology; Specimens; Human; Chlamydia pneumoniae; Chlamydiaceae; Cardiovascular disease; Method; Infection; Polymerase chain reaction; Vascular disease; Blood cell; DNA; Bacteriosis; Chlamydiales; Bacteria; Chlamydiosis; Diagnosis; Detection; Predictive factor
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/315126

Abdominal aortic aneurysm tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 41 consecutive subjects undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Helicobacter pylori DNA. Twenty patients (49%) were positive for C. pneumoniae DNA—16 (39%) in both PBMC and aneurysm tissue, 3 (7.3%) in PBMC only, and 1 (2.4%) in the artery specimen only. Previous exposure to C. pneumoniae was confirmed in 19 (95%) of the 20 PCR positive subjects by C. pneumoniae—specific serology, using the microimmunofluorescence test. None was positive for H. pylori or M. pneumoniae DNA, either in the PBMC or in the artery specimens. In conclusion, carriage of C. pneumoniae DNA is common both in PBMC and in abdominal aortic tissue from patients undergoing abdominal aneurysm surgery. Blood PCR may be a useful tool for identifying subjects carrying C. pneumoniae in the vascular wall.