Atherosclerosis of the carotid artery: Absence of evidence for CMV involvement in atheroma formation

Several studies suggest that certain viral and bacterial pathogens may cont ribute to the process of atherogenesis. However, this relation between infe ctious agents and atherosclerosis has not yet been established with certain ty. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of CMV in carotid endarterectomies from 40 patients suffering from atherosclerosis using imm unohistochemistry and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). None of the spec imens examined gave a positive result, indicating absence of CMV particles or CMV DNA sequences in the walls of carotid arteries. This finding suggest s it is possible that CMV infection may not play a major role in the format ion of atheroma. Therefore, further investigation is required in order to c larify the etiology of atherosclerosis. Cardiovasc Pathol 2000;9:181-183 (C ) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc.