CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN A MONOCENTRIC ROMANIAN ADULT PATIENT GROUP

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a widely distributed herpes virus in human populations that rarely causes any symptoms to healthy individuals. The infection can lead to serious health complications and even death for immature and immunocompromised people. Multiple studies have suggested that CMV could be a risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases even in healthy carriers. Atherosclerosis is the root cause of many diseases like stroke or cardiovascular-related pathologies like angina, ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the link between CMV serostatus and cardiovascular parameters like left ventricle mass and cholesterol level in a cohort of 145 volunteers. Also, we researched the benefits of cholesterol-lowering drugs in the prevention of CMV induced atherogenesis. The study revealed that the severity of cardiovascular disease is associated with an increased CMV IgG titter.