Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus, Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus DNA in Atherosclerotic Plaques and in Unaffected Bypass Grafts
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Author |
Ali I. Ibrahim; Michel T. Obeid; Muhidien J. Jouma; Ghassan A. Moasis; Wael L. Al-Richane; Ingrid Kindermann; Michael Boehm; Klaus Roemer; Nikolaus Mueller-Lantzsch; Barbara C. Gärtner |
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Published in |
Journal of Clinical Virology, Volume 32, Issue 1, Pages 29–32, January 2005 |
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Abstract |
ACKGROUND: Herpes virus infections are suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: Viral DNA of herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) was analyzed by real-time PCR on 48 biopsies from atherosclerotic plaques extracted by end-arterectomy (46 coronary arteries, 2 carotid arteries), and in tissue from non-atherosclerosis vessels from the same patient as controls (23 internal mammary arteries, 43 saphenous veins). RESULTS: HSV-1 DNA was detected significantly more frequently in plaques (35%) than in control veins (9%, P = 0.006). However, the frequency of HSV-1 DNA detection in the internal mammary artery grafts was as high as in plaques (22%, P = 0.28). CMV and EBV DNA were exclusively found in plaques but not in controls, with 10% for CMV (P = 0.06 versus veins, P = 0.17 versus graft arteries) and 2% for EBV (P = 1.0), respectively. HSV-2 was neither detected in plaques nor in controls. Herpes viral DNA was significantly associated only with arterial hypertension but not with other classical risk factors (P = 0.02), in accordance with the hypothesis that herpes viral infection may alter the vessel wall. CONCLUSION: We conclude that herpes viral infections may have a role in atherosclerosis and that the presence of herpes viral DNA in the grafts used for bypass surgery might constitute a potential risk for atherosclerosis or restenosis. |
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