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The mechanisms by which infectious agents may contribute to atherosclerosis and its clinical manifestations

A Kol1, P Libby

  • 1Vascular Medicine and Atherosclerosis Unit, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine
|February 28, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Infectious agents like herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and Chlamydia pneumoniae may contribute to atherosclerosis. These infections can directly damage blood vessels or indirectly promote inflammation and clotting, potentially triggering cardiovascular events.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pathogen Research

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a major cause of cardiovascular disease.
  • Chronic infections are common in the general population.
  • Herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and Chlamydia pneumoniae are implicated as potential contributors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of specific infectious agents in atherosclerosis.
  • To understand the direct and indirect mechanisms by which these pathogens influence vascular health.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on viral and bacterial infections and their link to atherosclerosis.
  • Analysis of proposed direct and indirect pathogenic pathways.

Main Results:

  • Infectious agents can directly impact vascular wall cells (lysis, lipid accumulation, inflammation).
  • Indirect effects include systemic inflammation, prothrombotic states, and hemodynamic changes.
  • Combined with risk factors, infections may promote atherogenesis and acute coronary events.

Conclusions:

  • Herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and Chlamydia pneumoniae are significant potential pathogens in atherosclerosis.
  • Understanding these microbial roles is crucial for developing new prevention and treatment strategies for cardiovascular disease.

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