Exploring the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in cardiovascular disease: a narrative review.

: An overwhelming number of studies have suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae infections play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Several, but not all, seroepidemiological studies have shown that C. pneumoniae antibodies may be related to the development of atherosclerotic disease. Additionally, C. pneumoniae seems to be present in atherosclerotic but not in healthy vascular tissue. Experimental studies have suggested a number of molecular mechanisms by which vascular C. pneumoniae infection might stimulate atherosclerosis development. Alternatively, nonvascular C. pneumoniae infection may cause clinically relevant atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular events through the systemic effects of chronic infection. Genetic variation may account for individual differences in susceptibility to the proatherogenic effects of C. pneumoniae infection. Despite the suggested role of infection in atherosclerosis, antibiotics seem to have no place in the secondary prevention of atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular events. The present narrative review evaluates the role of C. pneumoniae infections in the development of cardiovascular disease.