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. 2009 Feb 3;20(10):829–836. doi: 10.1002/clc.4960201008

Chronic infection in the etiology of atherosclerosis‐the case for chlamydia pneumoniae

Sandeep Gupta 1,✉, A John Camm 1
PMCID: PMC6655955  PMID: 9377818

Abstract

Established cardiovascular risk factors do not fully explain the variations in the prevalence and severity of coronary heart disease. Recent evidence suggests that common chronic infections may contribute, either by direct or indirect mechanisms, to the etiology and/or progression of coronary atherosclerosis. Of the candidate infectious agents implicated, Chlamydia pneumoniae has emerged as the most likely pathogen to have a causal role. Evidence for this is based on seroepidemiologic, pathologic, and laboratory‐based evidence, in addition to recent small‐scale antibiotic intervention studies. Concerted efforts are now focused on the design of large prospective trials with antibiotics active against C. pneumoniae in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.

Keywords: Chlamydia pneumoniae, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease

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