FAILURE TO DETECT CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE IN ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES OF AUSTRALIAN PATIENTS

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a recently reported, but common, respiratory t ract pathogen. The organism has been detected by electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and recently cult ure within atherosclerotic plaques, suggesting a possible association between C. pneumoniae infection and atherosclerosis. Interestingly thi s association has not been found by all researchers. We examined 17 ca rotid endarterectomy specimens, 16 carotid arteries and 16 coronary ar teries from autopsy specimens. They were examined by PCR for the prese nce of C. pneumoniae. In none of the 49 atherosclerotic samples examin ed was C. pneumoniae detected. The sensitivity of our PCR assay was ri gorously tested and found to detect consistently fewer than ten elemen tary bodies. The association between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis is intriguing but has not yet been demonstrated in Australian patient s.