Is there an association of allergy and cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular diseases and allergic diseases occur commonly in developed countries. They lead to serious health complications and significantly impair the quality of life. Both types of diseases are characterized by excessive inflammatory processes. Recent studies suggest a link between allergy and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, resulting from overactivity of the immune system in allergic diseases and increased synthesis of proinflammatory mediators, which has been well documented in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this article is to present current data on the role of proinflammatory factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and allergies and on potential relationship between these disorders.