Can Allergic Disorders Decrease the Risk of Thromboembolic Events in Atherosclerosis? an Evidence-based Review

Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammatory disorder of the medium and large-sized arteries. Recent experiments demonstrated that atherosclerosis is a Th1 dominant autoimmune condition, whereas Th2 cells are rarely detected within the atherosclerotic lesions. Several studies have indicated that Th2 type cytokines could be effective in the reduction and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, modulation of the adaptive immune response by shifting immune responses toward Th2 cells could represent a promising approach to prevent from progression and thromboembolic events in coronary artery disease. Since Th2-mediated immune response is mostly implicated in asthma and most allergic disorders, this evidence-based review will discuss how asthma and other Th2-mediated allergic disorders can decrease the risk of thromboembolic events in atherosclerotic patients with focus on the suggested immune mechanisms.