Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is not an independent risk factor for arterial disease

Appreciation of atherosclerosis as an infectious disease has fostered inter est in the role that Chlamydia pneumoniae may play in atheroma development. Although data from seroepidemiological and experimental studies have estab lished an association between the pathogen and atherosclerosis, little is k nown about how the organism contributes to lesion development. Atherosclero sis is a complex disease process and the role of any pathogen must be consi dered in the context of other risk factors. Here we focus on the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae and conventi onal risk factors for atherosclerosis. There is evidence for a strong assoc iation between chronic infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and smoking as w ell as high serum cholesterol. It is concluded from the present data that c hronic infection with the pathogen is not an independent risk factor for at herosclerosis.