Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
20 Sep 2002 21:23 PDT
Rattan,
I did further research on “viruses that cause plaque build-up” and
came up with a few extra bits of information. All my research still
points to the viruses I previously mentioned – herpesvirus (Of which
CMV is a member) and coxsackievirus. Because there are apparently
several viruses that are being implicated as causes of arterial
plaque, I can’t be positive I have the exact one to which you are
referring (But I hope so!).
http://www.uhn.ca/whatsnew/releases/2000/April00/liu.html
However, I have found the following, which I am hoping answers better
your quandry.
On this website, is an article from the Texas Heart Institute,March
20, 2002, that discusses the implication of the influenza virus and
states “This study shows for the first time that influenza infection
promotes inflammation, growth, and thrombosis of atherosclerotic
plaques without involvement of the vessel media. Histopathologic
changes as those observed in the present study have not been
previously reported in human or animal atherosclerotic plaques.
Possible mechanisms include massive production of cytokines in the
lungs that are released into the circulation, influenza virus-induced
deposition of immune-complexes in the plaque, virus presence in the
plaque, thrombotic diathesis, endothelial apoptosis, endothelial
dysfunction, oxidative stress. This model may also prove useful for
studying the roles of infection and inflammation in atherogenesis.”
http://www.cvpr.org/Resources/ACC2002.htm
This site cites a Stanford study of CMV (which belongs to the
herpesvirus family http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/cytomega.htm
) as one of the causative agents of plaque buildup. This study
found that heart transplant patients who received an antiviral drug,
known as ganciclovir have a lower incidence of coronary artery disease
than untreated patients. “Although the exact reason for the increased
plaque formation is not known, previous studies have identified a
correlation between infection with CMV and coronary artery disease in
both transplanted and non-transplanted hearts.
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/report/news/july14/transplant-714.html
Here is a very brief article that discusses plaque reduction assays
against CMV.
http://www.a-s-t.org/abstracts98/abs444.htm
In addition to the above, I also came across an article about
Hepatitis C, which is perhaps the virus you are after. This study
refers to carotid artery disease, and not specifically heart disease
however.
People who are positive for Hepatitis C are at risk of carotid-artery
plaque build-up, according to a study in Japan, and reported in the
Lancet Medical Journal (Lancet.2002 Jan 12;359:118-23. )
http://merck.praxis.md/index.asp?page=newsarchive&news_id=55241&news=MD
I hope this better answers your question. I could find no mention of
any other plaque-inducing viruses.
Regards,
crabcakes
