Table 1.

Infection as a Cause of Atherosclerosis: A Historical Perspective

Huchard (1891): infectious diseases of childhood as a cause of atherosclerosis

Wiesner (1906): endocarditis and osteomyelitis associated with coronary arterial calcification

Weisel (1906): typhoid, scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria, sepsis, pneumonia, and osteomyelitis associated with atherosclerosis

Osler (1908): “acute infections” including scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria, smallpox, and influenza as a cause of atherosclerosis

Burch (1960s): coxsackie B virus linked with atherosclerosis in animal studies

Minick and Fabricant (1980s): Marek disease herpesvirus linked with atherosclerotic lesions is chickens

Ross (1990s): “response to injury” theory of atherogenesis