[Arteriosclerosis caused by infection? A possible link between Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis].

Infection as a possible underlying cause of atherosclerosis has aroused increasing interest in recent years, Chlamydia pneumoniae being one of the organisms upon which attention has been focused. Newly published results of antibiotic treatment of vascular disease not only appear to provide further support for the infection hypothesis, but also suggest a quite different approach to the treatment of atheromatous cardiovascular disease. However, confirmatory clinical trials will be needed before antibiotic treatment can be considered in such cases.