Chlamydia pneumoniae and anti-infective therapy: their role in the pathogenesis and treatment of coronary artery disease.
Cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of death in the United States; however, conventional cardiovascular risk factors fail to explain completely the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. There has been recent interest in the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and the risk of development or progression of atherosclerotic disease. This association has become evident through serologic, pathologic, and animal-based models and, more recently, through limited trials of antichlamydial antibiotics in humans. Whether C. pneumoniae is a causative agent or "innocent bystander" or whether antibiotic therapy has any role in the treatment of cardiovascular disease remains to be determined.
Behbahani
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Product Information Department, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101, USA.
Verme-Gibboney
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C
Romanelli
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AM
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000502:physiology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents