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World J Clin Cases. Jul 16, 2014; 2(7): 240-249
Published online Jul 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i7.240
Published online Jul 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i7.240
Infectious burden and atherosclerosis: A clinical issue
Rosa Sessa, Marisa Di Pietro, Simone Filardo, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Ombretta Turriziani, Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Author contributions: Sessa R, Di Pietro M, Filardo S and Turriziani O contributed to this paper; all authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript before submission.
Supported by Grants to R. Sessa from Center for Social Disease Research, “Sapienza” University, Rome
Correspondence to: Rosa Sessa, PhD, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. rosa.sessa@uniroma1.it
Telephone: +39-064-9914102 Fax: +39-064-9914634
Received: December 27, 2013
Revised: May 16, 2014
Accepted: June 10, 2014
Published online: July 16, 2014
Revised: May 16, 2014
Accepted: June 10, 2014
Published online: July 16, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Several studies support the hypothesis that the infectious burden (IB) may be more involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis than any single pathogen. However, because of the complexity of the interplay of more infectious agents in the host and the limitations of the methods available for the assessment of IB, the role of IB in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis may have been underestimated.