@article{3092570,
    title = "Detection of cytomegalovirus, Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia
pneumoniae DNA in carotid atherosclerotic plaques by the polymerase
chain reaction",
    author = "Latsios, G and Saetta, A and Michalopoulos, NV and Agapitos, E and and Patsouris, E",
    journal = "Acta Cardiologica",
    year = "2004",
    volume = "59",
    number = "6",
    pages = "652-657",
    publisher = "ACTA CARDIOLOGICA",
    issn = "0001-5385, 1784-973X",
    doi = "10.2143/AC.59.6.2005249",
    keywords = "CMV; helicobacter pylori; Chlamydia pneumoniae; PCR; atherosclerosis;
infection",
    abstract = "Objective-Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and
Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) have been associated with human
atherosclerosis. The reported rates of detection within atherosclerotic
lesions by PCR vary widely for all of these pathogens. We investigated
their presence in carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
Methods and results-Eighty-three carotid atherosclerotic specimens were
available for examination. The highly sensitive polymerase chain
reaction method was employed with primers specific for each agent. The
presence of CMV DNA was not detected in any of the examined samples
(0%), whereas the presence of H. pylori DNA was observed in two out of
eighty-three cases (2.4%). C. pneumoniae DNA was found in eighteen
(21.6%) of the plaques studied.
Conclusions-H. pylori DNA was detected in a very small subset of
atherosclerotic plaques, whereas CMV DNA was not detected in any of the
plaques studied. C. pneumoniae DNA was found in a significant number of
our atherosclerotic plaques. Further studies are needed to clarify the
possible causal relation between infection by these organisms and
atherosclerosis."
}