Impact of pathogen burden on in-stent restenosis in patients after coronary stent implantation

BACKGROUND: Although some certain infectious pathogens could be detected in the patients with coronary artery disease, the roles of these infectious factors in the development of coronary artery diseases remain largely unknown. Since the number of infectious pathogens has been argued to be relative to the coronary artery diseases, we therefore examined whether there is a link between the number of infections and the incidence of in-stent restenosis after stent implantation. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-one patients were enrolled in this study. Infectious pathogens including serum anti-Chlymydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, Helico pylori, human herpes simplex virus-1, human herpes simplex virus-2 antibodies and hepatitis B virus antigen were measured in all patients before coronary stent implantation. Coronary angiography was performed before, immediately after and 6 months after stent implantation. RESULTS: Restenosis rate 6 months post stent implantation was similar in patients with low pathogen burden (< 3 pathogens, 33.3%) to those with high pathogen burden (> or = 3 pathogens, 29.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Previous infections with Chlymydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, Helico pylori, human herpes simplex virus-1, human herpes simplex virus-2 and hepatitis B virus do not contribute to the incidence of restenosis after stent implantation.