Inflammation, Immunity, and the Cardiovascular System

This chapter examines the central and multifaceted role of immune-mediated inflammation in the pathogenesis, progression, and outcomes of cardiovascular disease, drawing on advances from innate and adaptive immunology, systems biology, and translational cardiology. It reviews the evidence linking inflammatory biomarkers, autoimmune conditions, and systemic inflammatory diseases — including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and psoriasis — to accelerated cardiovascular risk, and evaluates the impact of immunomodulatory therapies on cardiovascular endpoints. The chapter also discusses the cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19 and post-acute sequelae as a model of infection-mediated cardiac inflammation.