A method for preventing or retarding the development atherosclerotic lesions or restenosis involves administering to a subject, preferably a human, an effective amount of an anti-viral composition directed against CMV, and optionally an anti-microbial composition directed against C. pneumoniae. These compositions may be conventional chemical anti-microbial pharmaceutics. Alternatively, the compositions may contain a cytomegalovirus (CMV) protein or fragment thereof (or nucleic acid containing compositions expressing such protein or fragment). Such compositions may contain an immunogenic C. pneumoniae protein or fragment thereof (or nucleic acid containing compositions expressing such protein or fragment). The protein/nucleic acid compositions are administered in an amount capable of inducing cell mediated immunity and/or antibody response in the subject.