Roxithromycin in prevention of acute coronary syndrome associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection: a randomized placebo controlled trial.

The role of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in precipitating acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is unclear. Some studies have indicated that intervention with macrolide antibiotics might reduce coronary events in patients with ACS. A double blind, randomized, placebo-control trial was conducted on 84 ACS patients. Patients were randomized to 30 days of treatment with roxithromycin (150 mg, twice daily) or matching placebo. The follow-up period was 90 days, and the primary clinical end point included cardiovascular death, unplanned revascularization and recurrent angina/MI. Anti-C. pneumoniae IgG positive in 24 of 43 (55.8%) patients in the roxithromycin group and 23 of 41 (56.1%) patients in the placebo group. Anti-C. pneumoniae IgA positive in 20 of 43 (46.5%) patients in the roxithromycin group and 13 of 41 (31.7%) patients in the placebo group. Thirty-three cardiac events occurred (2 cardiovascular deaths, 9 CABG, 12 PTCA and 10 recurrent angina/MI) with 17 events in the roxithromycin group and 16 events in the placebo group. There was no significant difference of cardiac events between the roxithromycin and placebo groups. The present study suggests that antibiotic therapy with roxithromycin is not associated with reduction of cardiac events as reported by other investigators. However, therapeutic interventions may need to be specifically targeted to a group of patients who are confirmed with chronic C. pneumoniae infection.

Obesity and risk factors of coronary heart disease in healthy Thais: a cross-sectional study.

Association between obesity and conventional risk factors for coronary artery disease is well established. Obesity is currently considered an independent risk for coronary artery disease. The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and fasting plasma lipids and glucose and blood pressures in non-obese subjects is not established. The authors studied relationships between BMI and lipids, and glucose, and blood pressure levels in healthy a population. The authors measured the weights and heights of 3,615 employees of a company during a routine yearly health examination. There were 1,250 males aged 31.3 +/- 6.6 and 2,365 females aged 29.3 +/- 4.9 years old. The average BMI for males and females were 23.5 +/- 3.6 and 20.1 +/- 3.0 respectively. The levels of total cholesterol (Chol), LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) had a positive relationship with BMI (r = 0.22, 0.26, 0.41, 0.20; p < 0.001). HLD-cholesterol had a negative correlation with BMI (r = -0.36, p < 0.001). Both systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures had a positive correlation with BMI. The association persisted after all values were adjusted by age and sex. BMI has a significant positive relationship with the conventional risk factors for coronary artery disease and a negative relationship with HDL-cholesterol.

Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with coronary artery disease.

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been recognized as a risk factor of atherosclerosis. This study was aimed to measure the risk of coronary artery disease in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia. Age, HDL level, tHcy level and history of DM were independent risk factors for coronary artery disease. The level of tHcy of 11.0 mmol/L provides the best sensitivity and specificity of predicting coronary artery disease.

Use of beta-blockers in chronic congestive heart failure.

The sympathetic nervous system and renin angiotensin agents play an important role in heart failure both as a marker of severity of disease and also as a deteriorious factor for congestive heart failure. A beta-blocker in those patients used to be contraindicated. There has been evidence that the blocking effect of alpha and beta-receptors may ameliorate symptoms and retard progression of the disease. In early studies, the usage of a beta-blocker in mild to moderate congestive heart failure could improve symptoms, increase exercise capacity, and decrease heart size. Recently large clinical randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials exhibited long-term treatment of beta-blockers, in chronic heart failure could improve cardiac function, alleviate symptoms, reduce the all-cause mortality and also risk of cardiovascular hospitalization. The appropriate dose and gradual adjustment over time with patient selection will increase benefit and decrease the adverse effects. In the future, beta-blockers may be the fourth component of the standard regimen of ACE inhibitors, diuretics and digoxin in many patients with congestive heart failure.