Could there be a link between blood transfusions and atherosclerosis?

Acccording to recent publications ( Haranaga S. et al, Transfusion Sept 2001 and Kaul R. et al, Circulation Nov. 2001), a significant percentage of healthy donors carry C. pneumoniae, which may be a risk factor for some chronic diseases. In addition, the NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE STRATEGIC PLAN for FY 2002-2006 includes as a goal to delineate the specific cellular and molecular mechanisms by which infectious agents contribute to atherogenesis. According to this plan, observational studies have linked certain viral and bacterial infections to atherosclerosis, coronary events, and restenosis after arterial intervention. For example, involvement of members of the herpes virus family has been observed in atherosclerosis, and the association of the bacterial agent Chlamydia Pneumoniae and atherosclerosis has been demonstrated. For more details, read this recent article by Byers J & Robertson R.The foregoing information is interesting in light of the findings of Haranaga S et al. (above) who reported that twenty-one (8.9%) of 237 blood samples from healthy blood donors showed the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA and antigen in the PBMNCs. It would also be interesting to know whether leukocyte reduction is effective in removing C. pneumoniae from donated blood.

ADDENDA Jan. 8, 2006

Editor's note: The article "Depletion of Resident Chlamydia pneumoniae through Leukoreduction by Filtration of Blood for Transfusion" might offer an answer to the question "It would also be interesting to know whether leukocyte reduction is effective in removing C. pneumoniae from donated blood" posed by the Editor in 2002.

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