ABSTRACT
Atherothrombotic vascular disease (AVD), to which atherosclerosis is the main underlying pathology, is the most critical area of medical sciences. Importantly, the accumulated epidemiological, seroepidemiological, and animal model evidence so far overwhelmingly suggests infections as a major risk factor for vascular inflammation. To develop novel diagnostics and treatments, we have recently described for the first time a cellular immunology-, genomics-, and metagenomics-based technology for identification and quantitation of bacterial pathogens in atheromas from patients. This advancement in the field of disease brings about an entirely novel set of technology development opportunities in personalized cardiovascular medicine, addressing this most pressing public health concern as well as the largest burden on the government healthcare budgets. The general public is not informed and has no access to the majority of the professional journals covering the contribution of chronic infections to vascular inflammations. The present brief outline of this exciting field is intended to support the clinician’s work and to achieve the therapeutic goals, where patient compliance is indispensable. This leaves the responsibility for health education to the media and to the family doctor and treating physician and dentist.
Keywords: atherosclerosis, bacterial infection, risk factors
