Heart Attacks May Have an Infectious Component, New Research Suggests
For years, classic risk factors like high cholesterol, hypertension, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle have been understood as the primary drivers of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks). Though, a new international study is proposing a surprising possibility: heart attacks could have an infectious origin, akin to other transmissible diseases.
Researchers from the University of tampere (Finland), working wiht collaborators at the University of Oulu and the University of Oxford, have found evidence suggesting certain bacteria can reside within atherosclerotic plaques, remaining dormant for extended periods. These bacteria don’t circulate freely; instead, they form biofilms - highly organized, resilient communities encased in a protective layer that shields them from both the immune system and antibiotics.
The research indicates these microbial shelters can remain inactive for decades, until triggered by an external factor, such as a viral infection. This reactivation leads the bacteria to release inflammatory substances,weakening the arterial plaque and increasing the risk of rupture and clot formation,ultimately triggering a heart attack.
Bacterial DNA Found in Heart Tissue
To investigate this hypothesis,the team analyzed tissue samples from individuals who died of sudden cardiac death and from patients with atherosclerosis undergoing vascular surgery. Molecular tests revealed the presence of DNA from oral bacteria embedded within the plaques.
Notably, the researchers detected direct bacterial biofilms within the coronary arteries. In cases of acute infarction, they observed bacteria being released from these biofilms, coinciding with the uncontrolled inflammation known to destabilize plaques and obstruct blood flow.
A Potential Shift in Cardiology
Traditionally, the prevailing theory has centered on oxidized LDL cholesterol as the primary cause of the inflammatory response that damages arteries. These new findings don’t dismiss the role of cholesterol, but suggest that bacterial infections could be a more important contributing factor than previously recognized.
Pekka Karhunen, lead researcher of the study, emphasizes that this evidence could fundamentally change our understanding of coronary heart disease. “If we confirm that infections contribute directly to plaque rupture, we could rethink both the prevention and treatment of myocardial infarction,” he stated.
Exploring Preventative Measures: Could a Vaccine Be possible?
This discovery opens the door to novel preventative strategies, including the potential advancement of vaccines designed to block or neutralize the bacteria involved. Researchers are also exploring the possibility of creating antibodies or drugs capable of identifying and deactivating biofilms before they can cause damage.
The study, published in the Journal of the american Heart Association, is part of a larger European project involving investigators from 11 countries, supported by the Finland Foundation for Cardiovascular Research and the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally. If infections are confirmed to play a crucial role in their development,cardiology could experience a paradigm shift similar to the one that occurred when the bacterial cause of gastric ulcers was discovered,challenging the long-held belief that they were solely caused by stress. while current methods focus on infarct protection,vaccines represent a potential future avenue for prevention.
