Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity and systemic and renovascular atherosclerotic disease.

Background: Patients with hypertension may be vulnerable to vascular Chlamydia pneumoniae and/or cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection because of increased expression of adhesion molecules.

Objective: To determine whether C pneumoniae or CMV is associated with the presence of atherosclerotic lesions in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Ninety-six angiographic studies on 100 consecutive patients with of clinical signs or symptoms suggestive of renovascular hypertension were reviewed for the presence or absence of atherosclerotic lesions at the level of the renal arteries as well and abdominal aorta.