IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF VASCULITIS AND CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE

The immunologic cardiovascular diseases are a heterogeneous group of c onditions. Many of these entities are associated with serious morbidit y and mortality resulting from cardiac impairment, ischemic complicati ons, or organ dysfunction, particularly of the kidneys, lung, and nerv ous system. The systemic nature of these conditions, coupled with vagu e symptoms and nonspecific initial physical findings, makes the differ ential diagnosis complicated. Research has identified specific mediato rs and primary origins in some conditions, with infections often being responsible. Immunosuppressive therapy, despite the potential complic ations, has improved the prognosis of some of the more serious immunol ogic cardiovascular diseases. Improvement in the treatment of immunolo gic cardiovascular diseases awaits identification of additional causes , improved definition of host factors that predispose an individual to develop these conditions, and better understanding of the immune dysr egulation responsible for the progression of disease. The potential pa thophysiologic role of immunologic mechanisms in common disorders such as congestive heart failure and atherosclerosis is intriguing and off ers the possibility of novel therapies in these prevalent conditions.