CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE IN HUMAN ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSMS

Objectives: To investigate the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in the wall of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms, and in the wall of non-aneurysmal infrarenal abdominal aortas. Design: Case-control stud y. Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 40 patients ope rated transperitoneally for an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (I AAA) (eight females, 32 males; mean age 69 years, median age 68 years) . Specimens from the aneurysm wall were taken peroperatively under ste rile conditions. The control group consisted of 40 deceased persons wi thout aortic aneurysms (14 females, 26 males; mean age 71 years, media n age 70 years). Specimens from the non-aneurysmal infrarenal aortas ( NIAA) were collected within 48 h after death. The specimens from both groups were frozen at -70 degrees C immediately after collection. A ne sted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, using two sets of primers designed to detect a fragment of the major outer membrane protein gen e of C. pneumoniae, was used. Results: The detection of C. pneumoniae- specific DNA was significantly higher in the study group (14/40=35%) t han in the control group (2/40=5%); (p=0.001). No clinical factor pred icting the presence of C. pneumoniae in the aneurysm wall, could be fo und. Conclusion: Chlamydia pneumoniae was detected at a significantly higher frequency in the wall of IAAAs than in the wall of NIAAs. Altho ugh this finding does not prove that C. pneumoniae causes IAAAs, furth er studies on the possible role of C. pneumoniae in the pathogenesis o f aneurysms should be performed.