Review QJM Infectious agents and atherosclerotic vascular disease

The pathological changes underlying occlusive vas-cular disease show considerable overlap with those caused by a range of infections. Particular viral and bacterial pathogens have long been suspected of playing a part, directly or indirectly, in the process leading to atherosclerosis. We review recent evid-ence of links between infections and ischaemic heart disease, particularly in the case of Chlamydia pneu-moniae infection. Possible mechanisms for these associations are discussed