DIRECT AND INDIRECT EVIDENCE OF CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE IN PATIENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT STENOSIS OF A. CAROTIS OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC ORIGIN

The aim of this study was to ascertain the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of significant carotid atherosclerotic stenosis in thirty patients (25 male and 5 female, 67.5 years old on avŹerage) through both direct and indirect methods. Direct evidence of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the DNA product Chlamydia pneumoniae in the atherosclerotic plaque obtained during the operaŹtion of a. carotis was positive in 56.7% of the patients. Blood sera were analysed using enzyme immuŹnoassay (ELISA) for the detection of species-specific antibodies in the immunoglobulin classes IgA, IgG and IgM against Chlamydia pneumoniae, and ELISA for the detection of antibodies in the class IgG to chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60). Species-specific antibodies of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the IgA class were detected in 60 % of the patients, in the IgG class in 86.7 %, and in the IgM class in 3.3 %. Chlamydial heat shock protein antibodies were detected in 56.7% of the patients. The results of the direct evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the atherosclerotic plaques using the PCR method and the detection of specific IgA chlamydial antibodies in the sera lead us to the conclusion that Chlamydia pneumoniae can be a significant participant in the origin and progression of atherosclerosis as well as in the strategy of the consequent treatment and remission prevention after carotid stenosis surgery.