CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE - AN INFECTIOUS ETIOLOGY

Cardiovascular disease is currently the most common cause of death in the developed world and is increasing in incidence in developing count ries. High blood pressure, smoking and high levels of cholesterol are the primary risk factors for cardiovascular disease. While these and o ther risk factors account for the majority of the aetiology and epidem iology of cardiovascular disease, they cannot account for the entirety . In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in the role that infectious agents, in particular Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobact er pylori and cytomegalovirus, play in the pathogenesis and epidemiolo gy of cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological, clinical and animal stu dies have shown a link between infection with these organisms and coro nary heart disease, myocardial infarction and stroke. Infection alone is unlikely to lead directly to cardiovascular disease; however, it co uld, in association with other risk factors, initiate or exacerbate th e development of atherosclerotic plaques. This review discusses the re search which has implicated C. pneumoniae, H. pylori and cytomegalovir us infection as risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the possib le mechanisms by which infection can influence atherogenesis.