Chlamydia pneumoniae and Coronary Artery Disease: The Antibiotic Trials

• Published in: Mayo Clinic proceedings Vol. 78; no. 3; pp. 321 - 332
• Main Author: Higgins, John P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rochester, MN Elsevier Inc 01.03.2003; Mayo Medical Ventures; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system; Biological and medical sciences; Chlamydophila Infections - complications; Chlamydophila Infections - diagnosis; Chlamydophila Infections - drug therapy; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Coronary Artery Disease - complications; Coronary Artery Disease - microbiology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; ACADEMIC; AZACS; CI; CAD; PROVE IT; STAMINA; MI; ROXIS; ACES; CLARIFY; PCR; WIZARD; Chlamydia pneumoniae; Toxicity; Azithromycin; Cardiovascular disease; Vascular disease; Randomization; Atherosclerosis; Chlamydiales; Bacteria; Clinical trial; Chlamydiosis; Human; Lung disease; Chlamydiaceae; Respiratory disease; Treatment efficiency; Inflammation; Coronary heart disease; Macrolide; Infection; Antibiotic; Concomitant disease; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Bacteriosis; Pneumopathy; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0025-6196; 1942-5546
• DOI: 10.4065/78.3.321

Parallel with the mounting evidence that atherosclerosis has a major inflammatory component, provoking agents that may initiate and drive this process have been sought. Infectious agents such as Chlamydia pneumoniae have been alleged to be activators of inflammation that may contribute to atherosclerosis and thus coronary artery disease (CAD) and its associated complications. A logical extension of this theory is whether treating C pneumoniae infection with antibiotics and/or modulating inflammatory processes can affect CAD and its sequelae. This article discusses the potential role of C pneumoniae in atherosclerosis, its detection, and the rationale for antibiotics. Additionally, it summarizes the current randomized clinical trials of antichlamydial antibiotics in patients with CAD and draws conclusions based on the results.