Could there be an association between chronic brucellosis and endothelial damage?

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, we examined the effects of Brucella infection on endothelial dysfunction. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) measurement is indicator of the endothelial function, and abnormal values indicating endothelial dysfunction are accepted as the first stage of atherosclerosis. Methodology: Twenty-four patients who had been treated for acute brucellosis two years before, and who had had no relapses in the followup, were prospectively included in the study, along with 30 healthy individuals in the control group. Results: While the highly sensitive Creactive protein (hs-CRP) value was 2.42 ± 1.45 in the patient group, it was 1.72 ± 0.61 in the control group (p = 0.025). While the FMD value was 3.50 ± 1.58 in the patient group, it was 5.88 ± 1.88 in the control group (p < 0.001). While the percentage increase in FMD was 9.88 ± 4.92 in the patient group, it was 17.49 ± 6.3 in the control group (p < 0.001). It was observed that FMD value, the percentage increase in FMD, and basal radius were correlated with hs-CRP (r = -0.644, p < 0.001; r = -0.558, p = 0.002; r = 0.444, p = 0.018, respectively). The carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) value was found to be 0.61 ± 0.17 in the patient group and 0.49 ± 0.12 in the control group (p = 0.004). Conclusions: The abnormal FMD and IMT values observed in brucellosis patients might be an indicator of more frequent arterial dysfunction, increased cardiovascular risk, and atherosclerosis.

The presence of periopathogenic bacteria in subgingival and atherosclerotic plaques – An age related comparative analysis

“…Atherosclerosis (AS) has been defined as a progressive disease that causes focal thickening of walls of arteries. In the past years there has been an emerging body of evidence that infectious processes may contribute to atherosclerosis [4][5][6]. Reports of association between a variety of infectious agents and atherosclerosis have appeared [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Clinical features and serum profile of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with brucellosis

“…Cardiovascular disease is one of complications of brucellosis, which is caused by Brucella spp. and involves multiple systems [1,2]. Brucella spp.…”

Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm due to brucellosis: a rare case report

“…In other case studies, it has been reported that mycotic pseudoaneurysm usually is due to trauma to the arterial wall with subsequent contamination [6, 16–21]. The arterial segment might be disrupted when an invasive infection is able to directly lodge in the artery or the vasa vasorum, especially with an intimal defect in the arterial wall such as an arteriosclerotic plaque [6, 19, 20]. In our case, the arteriosclerotic plaques were on CTA imaging.…”