Abstract
IntroductionNew evidence indicates infections are emerging as risk factors for atherosclerosis although their specific role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis is still unclear.Case presentationA 43-year-old Caucasian man who had been treated for four years for multiple sclerosis progressively manifested systemic hypertension, polycythemia, peripheral arterial occlusion with intermittent claudication, and persistent headaches. In 2006, an instrumental analysis (magnetic resonance imaging) of our patient revealed widespread fibrocalcific atherosclerotic lesions which accounted for all his current symptoms, including those related to microbial stimulus. Two particular aspects were of interest, namely a lack of conventional cardiovascular risk factors and a negative family history for cardiovascular events. His chemical blood tests all yielded negative findings although a low positive hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid titer was detected. The titer had progressively increased and worsening atherosclerosis threatened the life of our patient. Interferon therapy was not appropriate for our patient due to the severe adverse effects observed shortly after its administration.ConclusionsThe reaction of individual cells to infections may provide an explanation as to why individuals with a similar microbial burden, corrected for the presence of other risk factors, display a different susceptibility to developing or worsening atherosclerosis. The identification of susceptible individuals and the treatment even of silent infections may provide an additional tool against atherosclerosis and its clinical complications. The evaluation of cell susceptibility before and after the correction of risk factors may contribute to the assessment of the efficacy of drug therapy.
Highlights
New evidence indicates infections are emerging as risk factors for atherosclerosis their specific role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis is still unclear.Case presentation: A 43-year-old Caucasian man who had been treated for four years for multiple sclerosis progressively manifested systemic hypertension, polycythemia, peripheral arterial occlusion with intermittent claudication, and persistent headaches
The identification of susceptible individuals and the treatment even of silent infections may provide an additional tool against atherosclerosis and its clinical complications
The evaluation of cell susceptibility before and after the correction of risk factors may contribute to the assessment of the efficacy of drug therapy
Summary
The reaction of individual cells to infections may provide an explanation as to why individuals with a similar microbial burden, corrected for the presence of other risk factors, display a different susceptibility to developing or worsening atherosclerosis. The identification of susceptible individuals and the treatment of silent infections may provide an additional tool against atherosclerosis and its clinical complications. Consent Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. The data provided discuss the materials and methods used in plasma preparation, clinical chemistry, cell isolation and culture, analysis of cholesterol-laden macrophages, cell protein isolation and western blotting analysis, cytokine assay, cholesterol esterification, and statistical analysis. Doi:10.1186/1752-1947-4-183 Cite this article as: Conti et al.: Abnormal macrophage response to microbial stimulus in a 43-year-old man with a severe form of atherosclerosis: a case report.
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