The influence of antibiotics and statins on inflammation in coronary disease

Abstract

Cardiovascular system diseases are the leading cause of death in developed countries. According to the World Health Organization data, coronary artery disease is responsible for death of over seven million people per year, while only in the United States about two million patients are hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina). The main cause of these diseases is arteriosclerosis. The arteriosclerotic process in the big arterial blood vessels begins very early, already in childhood. Risk factors for arteriosclerosis are: hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking and physical inactivity. The main mechanism is a modest, chronic inflammative reaction as a response to the blood vessel damage.