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Infection as a risk factor for infarction and atherosclerosis
1Second Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Annals of Medicine
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Infections, including respiratory and dental, increase the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. Controlling infections, particularly endocarditis, may reduce associated thromboembolic complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Growing evidence links infections to atherosclerotic diseases like myocardial and cerebral infarction.
- Septicemia and endocarditis significantly elevate stroke risk.
- Milder bacterial infections, such as febrile respiratory infections and Chlamydia pneumoniae, are also identified as infarction risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the association between various infections and the risk of atherosclerotic events.
- To investigate potential mechanisms linking infection to infarction.
- To assess the impact of infection control on infarction risk and atherosclerotic lesion development.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical and experimental evidence.
- Analysis of controlled clinical studies identifying risk factors for stroke and myocardial infarction.
- Examination of proposed pathogenetic mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Febrile respiratory infections are a major stroke risk factor in younger and middle-aged individuals.
- Chlamydia pneumoniae and dental infections are implicated as risk factors for acute myocardial infarction.
- Infection can promote thrombosis, alter lipid/prostaglandin metabolism, and induce vascular inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Infections are linked to increased risk of infarction and atherosclerosis.
- Mechanisms include hypercoagulability, metabolic disturbances, and endothelial inflammation.
- Controlling infection may reduce infarction risk, notably in endocarditis patients where thromboembolic complications diminish with antimicrobial therapy.