Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease

Guest: Cornelia Weyand, M.D., Ph.D.

Host: Paul A. Friedman, M.D. (@drpaulfriedman)

Ever wonder how someone can suffer from cardiovascular diseases such as Heart Failure, Coronary artery disease, and Cardiomyopathy? Common risk factors for suffering from cardiovascular diseases are the effects of hypertension and high cholesterol. Furthermore, inflammation in cardiovascular diseases is a risk factor as well. Inflammation is the response to injuries or bacteria in the body’s immune system. However, inflammation can tend to work against the body’s immune system. At times, various amounts of plaque enter the arteries as a response it could trigger inflammation.

Joining us today to discuss Inflammation in Cardiovascular Diseases is Cornelia Weyand, M.D., Ph.D. professor of medicine and immunology and has an appointment in Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Specific topics discussed:

Should we classify and treat coronary artery disease as an inflammatory condition?
What are the drivers of the immune cells that accumulate in the atherosclerotic lesions?
Besides metabolic syndrome, are there other risk factors that predispose individuals to atherosclerotic disease?
During the COVID pandemic, individuals with cardiovascular disease were at particularly high risk for severe infection or death. What are the underlying mechanisms?
As we recognize atherosclerosis as an immune-mediated disease, what are the therapeutic implications?

Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV.

NEW Cardiovascular Education App: The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!

No CME credit offered for this episode.

Podcast episode transcript found here.