Common community infections and the risk for coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction: Evidence for chronic over-expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha and vascular cells adhesion molecule-1

Past infections with HAV, HSV and HP are associated with higher risk for coronary atherosclerosis, while the presence of anti-HAV IgG is also associated with higher levels of TNF-α and sVCAM-1. Furthermore, the presence of recent infection by CP is associated with higher risk for AMI among CAD patients. These findings are important since they demonstrate that past HAV, HSV and HP infections may affect cardiovascular risk, while recent CP infection may be implicated in the triggering of AMI among CAD patients.