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The role of virus infection in abdominal aortic aneurysm aetiology
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Abstract
Background. Contemporary studies on aneurysm formation in the course of inflammatory changes led to trials on the role of virus infection in its pathology. Some data in literature indicate infections of the aneurysm wall with such viruses as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1, 2 (HSV 1/2). These microorganisms, causing subclinical, chronic or recurrent infections, may have a long-lasting, damaging influence on the aortic wall. The study objective was to solve the following problems: 1. Can the presence of viruses be a factor that causes abdominal aortic aneurysm formation? 2. Does the division of aneurysms into two groups (non-specific and inflammatory) have a clinical nature, or does it result from their different aetiology?
Material and methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on DNA presence of CMV, HSV 1/2 and human papilloma virus type 6, 11 (HPV 6/11) were carried out on 34 patients with recognized abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), 30 patients with artery atherosclerosis (AA) and at 20 volunteers from a control group.
Results. DNA of CMV was detected in none of the tested groups of aortas; HSV 1/2 was detected in one control issue. DNA presence of HPV 6/11 was detected in 100% of tissues taken from aneurysmatic walls, as well as in 14 samples (46.7%) received from atherosclerotic aortas and in 17 tissues (85%) from control aortas.
Conclusions. The results suggest that the presence of HPV 6/11 is not a causative factor of AAA. However, the presence of these viruses, even in latent form, may lead to aortic wall weakness and increased susceptibility to secondary infection of C. pneumoniae bacteria, the presence of which was confirmed in previously demonstrated test results.
Abstract
Background. Contemporary studies on aneurysm formation in the course of inflammatory changes led to trials on the role of virus infection in its pathology. Some data in literature indicate infections of the aneurysm wall with such viruses as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1, 2 (HSV 1/2). These microorganisms, causing subclinical, chronic or recurrent infections, may have a long-lasting, damaging influence on the aortic wall. The study objective was to solve the following problems: 1. Can the presence of viruses be a factor that causes abdominal aortic aneurysm formation? 2. Does the division of aneurysms into two groups (non-specific and inflammatory) have a clinical nature, or does it result from their different aetiology?
Material and methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on DNA presence of CMV, HSV 1/2 and human papilloma virus type 6, 11 (HPV 6/11) were carried out on 34 patients with recognized abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), 30 patients with artery atherosclerosis (AA) and at 20 volunteers from a control group.
Results. DNA of CMV was detected in none of the tested groups of aortas; HSV 1/2 was detected in one control issue. DNA presence of HPV 6/11 was detected in 100% of tissues taken from aneurysmatic walls, as well as in 14 samples (46.7%) received from atherosclerotic aortas and in 17 tissues (85%) from control aortas.
Conclusions. The results suggest that the presence of HPV 6/11 is not a causative factor of AAA. However, the presence of these viruses, even in latent form, may lead to aortic wall weakness and increased susceptibility to secondary infection of C. pneumoniae bacteria, the presence of which was confirmed in previously demonstrated test results.
Keywords
aortic aneurysm; inflammatory aneurysm; viral infection
About this articleTitle
The role of virus infection in abdominal aortic aneurysm aetiology
Journal
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
104-113
Published online
2007-07-04
Page views
906
Article views/downloads
1724
DOI
10.5603/aa.9845
Bibliographic record
Acta Angiologica 2007;13(3):104-113.
Keywords
aortic aneurysm
inflammatory aneurysm
viral infection
Authors
Grzegorz Oszkinis
Marek Winckiewicz
Fryderyk Pukacki
Zbigniew Krasiński
Marcin Gabriel
Przemysław Nowak
Jacek Brzeziński
Robert Juszkat
Magdalena Snoch
Wacław Majewski