Atherosclerosis in inflammatory diseases

The recognition that inflammation is a hallmark of atherosclerotic disease and its complications has led to a series of studies reporting high prevalence of atherosclerosis in chronic inflammatory diseases. Indeed, chronic immune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, are associated with proinflammation, accelerated atherosclerosis and increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Since the susceptibility towards cardiovascular events cannot be explained by classical risk factors, disease-specific pathways have been put forward as additional risk factors, potentially important for future prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.