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Updated: May 18, 2026
08:01
Synthesis of Monocyte-targeting Peptide Amphiphile Micelles for Imaging of Atherosclerosis
Published on: November 17, 2017
Infections and atheromatous plaque: current therapeutic implications
Marietta Charakida1, Dimitris Tousoulis
1Vascular Physiology Unit, Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, WC1EH, UK. charakidadoc@gmail.com
Current Pharmaceutical Design
|September 29, 2012
Summary
Infections may trigger atherosclerosis, but studies show conflicting evidence. Treatments targeting infectious agents have largely failed, questioning the infectious cause of atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathogen-Host Interactions
Background:
- Infections are common inflammatory triggers linked to atherosclerosis development and progression.
- Pathogens found in atherosclerotic plaques and epidemiological studies show mixed results on infection's role in cardiovascular events.
- Specific pathogens like Influenza A, cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and Porphyromonas gingivalis have been investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the infectious hypothesis of atherosclerosis.
- To review the evidence linking various pathogens to cardiovascular disease.
- To assess the impact of infection prevention and treatment strategies on atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological studies and pathogen identification in atherosclerotic plaques.
- Analysis of associations between serological evidence of infection and cardiovascular events.
- Evaluation of outcomes from vaccination and antibiotic treatment trials.
Main Results:
- Conflicting associations reported between serological infection markers and cardiovascular events.
- Influenza A linked to acute cardiovascular events; chronic pathogens like cytomegalovirus and Chlamydia pneumoniae associated with disease progression.
- Infectious agents may affect atherosclerosis directly or indirectly through inflammation and molecular mimicry.
Conclusions:
- The role of infections in atherosclerosis remains controversial due to conflicting evidence.
- Current strategies for infection prevention (vaccination) and treatment (antibiotics) have yielded largely negative results.
- The validity of the infectious hypothesis of atherosclerosis is challenged by the limited success of interventions.
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