[The role of infection in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis].

Experimental models and human studies have supported a role of infection in the initiation of atherosclerosis. There are many known microorganisms who can play an important role in atherosclerosis, but especially two of them--Chlamydia pneumoniae and Cytomegalovirus are suspected to stimulate the process of atheromatosis. Until antibiotics or vaccines are useful in artery diseases prevention, therapies with proven vascular anti-inflammatory effects (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, aspirin, statins) should be optimized.