title: Is atherosclerosis an infectious disease?
abstract: Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is multifactorial, but several lines of evidence implicate infection as a potential contributing factor. Chlamydia pneumoniae has the most compelling data, with Helicobacter pylori and cytomegalovirus also implicated. Clinical trials of antibiotics to decrease coronary events are underway. Until the results are available, however, we advise against prescribing antibiotics for this purpose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA. mawhors@ccf.org
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Mawhorter
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lauer
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents