title: [Role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of coronary disease].
abstract: Several studies have demonstrated an association Chlamydia pneumoniae with coronary artery disease, suggesting that infection with C. pneumoniae increases the risk for coronary artery disease by factor 2 or more. Since atherosclerosis is considered to be a chronic inflammatory process, these data would fit into the response-to-injury hypothesis of atherosclerosis rather than representing a completely novel concept. Several pathomechanisms as increased cytokine synthesis, proliferative and proaggregatory effects could transmit the effects of chronic C. pneumoniae infection. Animal models and first clinical trials using antibiotic therapy seem to support an etiological role of C. pneumoniae in coronary artery disease. In this paper the current knowledge of the role of C. pneumoniae in coronary artery disease is reviewed and possible pathomechanisms are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Kardiologie, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kähler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Köster
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bräser
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Terres
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meinertz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G