Histochemical and immunohistochemical study on chlamydia pneumonia of atherosclerosis in the randomly selected medico-legal autopsy cases

ABSTRACT: HISTOCHEMICAL and IMMUNOfflSTOCHEMICAL STUDY on CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIA of ATHEROSCLEROSIS in THE RANDOMLY SELECTED MEDICO-LEGAL AUTOPSY CASES. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in sudden-unexpected- suspected deaths. The great majority of such deaths are due to coronary atherosclerosis. Recently Chlamydia pneumonia is shown as a cause and responsible pathogen in the atherosclerosis mechanism. In this study Chlamydia pneumonia and the relation with the mechanism of atherosclerosis has been investigated. 25 forensic autopsy cases aged between 10-30 are selected randomly. Various histochemical stains applied to four different arteries that have been sampled during the autopsy. Chlamydia pneumonia specific monoclonal antibody used with the ABC immunoenzymatic technique. Foam cells evaluated microscopically of the 21 cases however there was no macroscopic finding of atherosclerosis. Chlamydia pneumonia observed in the subendothelial area with various patterns in seven of the cases. Chlamydia pneumonia specific monoclonal antibody stained positive in the arteries which show minimal microscopic atherosclerosis. Our study reveals that there is a relation existing between athesclerosis and Chlamydia pneumonia, yet it is insufficient for a definite conclusion. This study shows that medico-legal autopsies are of value in understanding the etiopathology of the diseases and their mechanisms. This study is the first serial of its kind in our region and country and we think that it will be of helpful data for future series. We believe that these studies must be carried out in broad clinic and autopsy series with various arteries. Keywords: Forensic Medicine, Autopsy, Pathology, Atherosclerosis, Chlamydia pneumonia VI