Abstract
Purpose: :
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most frequent generalized vasculitis in the elderly and a frequent cause of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. It affects medium to large sized arteries. Recent studies revealed controversial results regarding the role of Chlamydophilia pneumoniae (Cp. pneunomniae) in the pathogenesis of GCA.
Methods: :
We investigated 224 consecutive obtained temporal artery biopsy specimens from patients who underwent biopsy between 1993 and 2006 at the University Eye Hospital Freiburg, Germany. A number of clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen, CRP, new onset of headache, jaw claudication, myalgia, weight loss, ocular involvement, fever. On the DNA extracted from the paraffin embedded biopsies PCR for beta globulin as well as outer and nested PCR for Cp. pneumoniae were performed. All positive samples for Cp. pneumoniae DNA were confirmed by sequencing.
Results: :
115 samples showed typical histology for GCA while 109 specimens exihibited no signs of inflammation. In 17 samples Cp. pneumoniae DNA was detected, of which 11 had positive histology while in 6 samples histology was normal. This difference was not statistically significant. Also, none of the clinical or laboratory parameters differed between the PCR positive and negative patients.
Conclusions: :
Our data revealed no evidence that Cp pneumoniae plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of GCA.
Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • immunomodulation/immunoregulation • microbial pathogenesis: clinical studies