Role of Chlamydia Pneumonia and Helicobacter Pylori in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Chlamydia pneumonia and Helicobacter pylori can cause persistent infections of the respiratory and gastrointestinaltract, respectively. It has been suggested that persistent infection of arteries with these bacteria can contribute to thedevelopment of atherosclerosis and aneurysm. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PCRevidence of infection with C. pneumonia and H. pylori, and the occurrence of abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis. Sixty patients; 30 with abdominal aortic aneurysm (mean age 67.4: 27 male, 3 female) and 30 with aortoiliac arteriosclerosis (mean age 58.5; 29 male, 1fe male) undergone surgery of the abdominal aorta for atherosclerotic obstructive lesions were the study group. Ten specimens from the macroscopically healthy regions of aorticwall from cadaver were the control group. The presence of microorganism DNA in specimens was assessed by PCR.Chlamydia Pneumonia DNA discovered in 47/60 (78.3%) of the study group cases in the wall of aorta and/or itsatheromatous plaque whereas none of them showed H. pylori DNA. The control group showed no detection of C.Pneumonia DNA. The presence of C. pneumonia and H. pylori DNA in a considerable number of atheroscleroticplaques but their absence in cadaver healthy vascular wall supports the idea that they may have a role in the development of atherosclerosis, especially in countries where infection is prevalent and where conventional risk factorsfail to explain the high prevalence of atherosclerotic vascular disease.