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Chlamydia pneumoniae and cardiovascular disease
Author(s) -
Larsen Mikkel M,
Moern Birgitte,
Andersen Paul L,
Ostergaard Lars J,
Fuller Andrew
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04953.x
Subject(s) - chlamydia , medicine , disease , etiology , chlamydophila pneumoniae , antibiotics , prospective cohort study , intensive care medicine , clinical trial , chlamydiales , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Chlamydia pneumoniae has been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, while seropositivity to this organism confers a slightly increased risk of coronary events. However, no aetiological link has been established; a major difficulty when investigating this link is the lack of a gold standard for diagnosing chronic vessel infection. The outcomes of case–control studies and prospective trials of macrolides in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease have been ambiguous but suggest a short‐term preventive effect. Whether this is due to the antimicrobial or anti‐inflammatory activity of the macrolides is unknown. Larger and longer prospective trials currently under way may provide better insight into the association of C. pneumoniae with cardiovascular disease. At present, there is no justification for treating cardiovascular disease with antibiotics.