Abstract

ESCOBAR, María F et al. Detection of Helicobacter pylori in human aortic tissue through amplification of the 16S rDNA gen. Rev. Col. Cardiol. [online]. 2005, vol.12, n.4, pp.157-162. ISSN 0120-5633.

Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen, frequently reported as responsible of gastrointestinal affections. During the last years, a causal relationship between chronic infections by several pathogens, among them the Helicobacter pylori, and the genesis and/ or progression of atherosclerosis, has been suggested. Although several studies have been realized, there is no conclusive evidence to assert this association. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of Helicobacter pylori in aortic tissue samples from patients with clinical diagnosis of annulo-aortic ectasia, through PCR amplification of a gen fragment of the 16S rDNA of this microorganism. Samples of DNA aortic tissue obtained from 20 patients were analyzed. An aortic fragment with apparent atherosclerotic lesion, and another from an apparently healthy region, was examined in each patient. No Helicobacter pylori nucleic acids were detected in any of the analyzed specimens. The results of the study suggest low or null association between Helicobacter pylori and coronary disease in our environment.

Keywords : Helicobacter pylori; PCR; atherosclerosis; annulo-aortic ectasia.

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