Aterosklerosis sampai saat ini merupakan penyebab utama morbiditas dan mortalitas di negara maju. Meskipun modifikasi faktor risiko di negara maju telah dapat menurunkan kekerapan aterosklerosis namun penurunan ini mulai menunjukkan grafik yang mendatar. Keadaan ini merangsang para peneliti untuk mencari faktor pajanan lingkungan termasuk faktor infeksi yang dapat mempengaruhi proses aterosklerosis. Telah dilakukan penelitian potong lintang dari bulan Maret 1998 sampai Agustus 1998 terhadap 122 orang pasien yang secara klinis menunjukkan penyakit jantung koroner yang menjalani kateterisasi jantung, terdiri dari 92 orang laki-laki dan 30 orang perempuan dengan rerata umur 55 tahun. Pasien diperiksa secara klinis dan laboratorium (gula darah, kolesterol, trigliserida dan antibodi terhadap C.pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus dan H.pylori). Pada penelitian ini didapatkan perbedaan kadar kolesterol, trigliserida dan HDL antara kelompok stenosis koroner dan non stenosis. Sedangkan kadar antibodi C.pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus, H.pylori tidak berbeda bermakna. Penelitian ini belum dapat menyimpulkan pengaruh antibodi terhadap aterosklerosis karena pada kelompok non stenosis tidak dapat disingkirkan kemungkinan terjadinya aterosklerosis mengingat rerata umur subyek penelitian 55 tahun. Penelitian mengenai interaksi infeksi dengan risiko tradisional serta gender dan nutrisi diperlukan untuk mendapat jawaban yang lebih jelas tentang pengaruh infeksi terhadap aterosklerosis. (Med J Indones 2002; 11: 211-4)

---

Atherosclerosis is still the chief cause of morbidity and mortality in developed nations. Even though in developed nations the modification of risk factors is able to reduce the prevalence rate of atherosclerosis, such reduction is starting to slow down. Such condition has stimulated researchers to identify environmental exposure, including infection, that can influence the process of atherosclerosis. This cross sectional study was conducted from March to August 1998, on 122 patients that clinically demonstrate coronary heart disease and have underwent cardiac catheterization, 92 males and 30 females with an average age of 55 years. Patients undergo clinical and laboratory evaluation (blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and antibody for C.pneumoniae. Cytomegalovirus, and H.pylori). We found a significant difference in cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL levels in those with coronary stenosis and those without. However, we did not find a significant difference in the levels of C.pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus, and H.pylori antibodies. This study is unable to conclude the influence of these antibodies on atherosclerosis, since in the non-stenosis group, we cannot eliminate the possibility of atherosclerosis, since the average age of study subject is 55 years. Studies on the interaction between infection and traditional risk factors as well as gender and nutrition is needed to find a clear answer of the influence of infection in atherosclerosis. (Med J Indones 2002; 11: 211-4)