The Relationship between Lung Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease

• Published in: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine Vol. 186; no. 1; pp. 11 - 16
• Main Authors: VAN EDEN, Stephan, LEIPSIC, Jonathon, MAN, S. F. Paul, SIN, Don D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY American Thoracic Society 01-07-2012
• Subjects: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - pharmacology; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - therapeutic use; Air pollution; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers - pharmacology; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers - therapeutic use; Animals; Atherosclerosis; Bacterial infections; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Causality; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cigarettes; Coronary vessels; Disease Progression; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Epidemiology; Heart; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - epidemiology; Intensive care medicine; Ischemia; Losartan - pharmacology; Lung Diseases - epidemiology; Lungs; Medical sciences; Morbidity; Mortality; Myocardial Ischemia - physiopathology; Outdoor air quality; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - epidemiology; Pneumology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Spirometry; Vascular disease; Lung disease; Intensive care; Respiratory disease; Atherosclerosis; Bronchus disease; Cardiovascular disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Inflammation; Resuscitation; COPD; lung inflammation
• ISSN: 1073-449X; 1535-4970
• DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201203-0455pp

Acute and chronic lung inflammation is an underrecognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Yet, there are compelling epidemiological data to indicate that airway exposures to cigarette smoke, air pollution particles, and viral and bacterial pathogens are strongly related to acute ischemic events. Over the past 10 years, there have been important human and animal studies that have provided experimental evidence to support a causal link. In this article, we review the epidemiological data for the relationship between lung inflammation and cardiovascular disease and provide plausible mechanistic pathways by which acute and chronic inflammation contributes to the development of acute cardiovascular syndromes.