Are Fungi Involved in the Atherosclerosis Process?
Author:
E. Moalic, J.-P. Elkaim, J. Mansourati, P. Gouny, L. Doucet, J.-J. Blanc, A.-M. Le Flohic
Date: 21 May 2002
Abstract:
Objectives:There is growing evidence of a relationship between some infective agents (Chlamydiapneumoniae and cytomegalovirus) and atherosclerotic process. We sought to determine a similarimplication between fungi and atherosclerosis.Methods:We studied atherosclerotic arterial fragments from 30 patients (24 M) undergoing peripheralvascular surgery (aorta, carotid, femoral and iliac arteries) and 30 fragments of nonatheroscleroticinternal mammary arteries from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (27 M). Eachfragment was separated to two pieces: one for mycological analysis and the other for directmicroscopy examination and culture in specific mediums. All fragments were handled with strictcautions in order to prevent any external contamination.Results:Ten (16.6%) fragment cultures showed fungal growth: 9 fragments originating fromatherosclerotic lesions (9/30) and only one from an internal mammary artery (1/30, P < 0.05).Three fungal species were identified: Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Trichoderma. No correlationwas found between the presence of fungi and atherosclerosis risk factors.Conclusion:This study shows a significantly high affinity of some fungi species to atherosclerotic arterialintima. Further investigations are needed to clarify fungal involvement in atherosclerotic process.
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