Abstract
Summary
Evidence is presented that measlesvirus antibody and herpesvirus antibody are sometimes present in human aortic tissues in a state not readily dissociable by extensive washing with buffered physiologic saline. This antibody is readily released from the tissues by high molarity potassium iodide solution, a treatment known to dissociate antigen-antibody complexes. We postulate: (1) that viral antigen-antibody complexes are sometimes present in aortic tissues; and (2) that a significant cause of vascular tissue injury in humans may be viral infection of the blood vessels themselves and/or deposit of viral antigen-antibody complexes in the vascular tissues.
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