Detection of Antigens of Cardiotropic Viruses in Atherosclerotic Plaques in Patients with Fatal Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Aim. To assess the frequency of detection of cardiotropic virus antigens in coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques in patients with fatal myocardial infarction (MI).Materials and methods. We examined fragments of coronary plaques of 12 patients with fatal type 1 MI. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of plaques was performed with the paraffin blocks using antibodies to Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, HSV-2, HSV-6, cytomegalovirus (CMV), parvovirus B19, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and enteroviruses.Results. According to the IHC all patients had virus antigens. The most common virus agents in fragments of coronary plaques were HSV-6 (10 patients) and enteroviruses (5 patients). Antigens of CMV, parvovirus B19, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus were not detected in any case.Conclusions. In this study viral antigens in coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques were found in all victims of fatal MI. There was no difference in the frequency of detection and type of viral agents between plaques in culprit arteries and uncomplicated atherosclerotic plaques.