[Helicobacter pylori and cytomegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis: an assessment of the current status].

An association between Helicobacter pylori infection or cytomegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis has been described. During the last four years, new evidence evolved from a number of studies, which allows to reevaluate the clinical impact of this association. Current knowledge suggests that the association between atherosclerosis and Helicobacter pylori may be accounted for by chance or by confounding from a secondary phenomenon. Regarding cytomegalovirus, a number of animal models and molecular studies propose several different mechanisms, by which the virus may interact with cells of the vessel wall, the immune system or with some of the established risk factors to cause atherosclerosis. Conclusive evidence for the clinical relevance of these experimental findings is still lacking. Some of the uncertainties may be resolved by larger studies, which have started during the last years.