Scientific Publications Database

Article Title: Acute Infection and Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Musher, Daniel M.; Abers, Michael S.; Corrales-Medina, Vicente F.
Journal: NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Volume 380 Issue 2
Date of Publication:2019
Abstract:
Until the early 20th century, the human life expectancy was less than 50 years, and infections were often fatal. Only in the past century have humans, on average, lived long enough for cardiovascular disease to develop regularly and have antimicrobial therapies made survival from infection the norm. Furthermore, sophisticated techniques for assessing myocardial damage have evolved during the past 50 years. It is therefore not surprising that an association between acute infections and myocardial infarction has been appreciated only in the past few decades. We will review the evidence that acute bacterial and viral infections are associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction in the short, intermediate, and long term, and we will then discuss mechanisms that might explain this association.