The association of carotid plaque inflammation and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with cerebrovascular symptomatology

Anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) immunoglobulin A (IgA) seropositivity in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery disease.

Chlamydia pneumoniae was detected much more often in the carotid plaques of symptomatic patients. IHC, Immunohistochemistry.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plaque levels were significantly higher in symptomatic patients compared with asymptomatic patients. Especially in symptomatic anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) immunoglobulin A (IgA) seropositive subjects, the levels of TNF-α on the atheroma were higher than in seronegative subjects, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .056). Range bars indicate median and interquartile range and whiskers indicate outliers.

Immunohistochemistry of plaque specimens. A, Characteristically (red fast stain) stained plaque for the detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae by use of a specific monoclonal antibody for Chlamydia, an avidin-biotin complex, and alkaline phosphatase (magnification ×400), B, Atheroma negative for C pneumoniae (magnification ×200).

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) serum values in patients with Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) infected (IHC+) and non-infected (IHC–) plaques (P = .001, Mann-Whitney test). IHC, Immunohistochemistry. Range bars indicate median and interquartile range and whiskers indicate outliers.