Infectious diseases of the cardiovascular system

Infection and inflammation of the cardiovascular system are a frequent cause of cardiac and/or vascular disease. Major advances have now occurred in understanding cellular and molecular bases of a wide variety of inflammatory cardiovascular diseases. Some of these (myocarditis) have been recognized as inflammatory disease for a long time. In others such as atherosclerosis, the inflammatory nature of the disease has emerged only recently. Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammation of specific layers of the heart. Myocarditis can lead to heart failure or arrhythmia, and myocytes or the conductive system can be affected. Pericarditis often presents with pain, ever and friction rub, sometimes with malaise or weight loss. Infective endocarditis affects usually the cardiac valves and can be fatal if not treated. Acute or chronic, mostly bacterial in origin, though fungal infections are becoming more common. While diseased valves as a cause is decreasing, medical interventions and immunosuppression as well as prosthetic valves are resulting in an increase in endocarditis. Organisms can enter from oral cavity, especially if there is poor dental hygiene or when dental work has taken place. Vasculitis can also be caused by infections but is very rare.