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Studies Debunk Antibiotics As Preventing Heart Ills

Posted on: Thursday, 21 April 2005, 21:00 CDT

Two major studies - one led by a Hub doctor - have dealt a major blow to researchers who had hoped taking antibiotics would thwart heart attacks.

Both findings, published in today's New England Journal of Medicine, conclude taking antibiotics regularly doesn't prevent heart disease.

"It really does close the door on this chapter of trying to prevent heart attacks with antibiotics," said Dr. Christopher Cannon of Brigham and Women's Hospital, whose two-year study tracked more than 4,000 patients.

Clinicians have found more than three-quarters of heart attack patients have been infected with a common respiratory germ called Chlamydia pneumoniae. Researchers had hoped - and prior studies had suggested - that antibiotics to treat the bacteria could reduce heart attacks.

Both studies found that while the germ may help trigger heart disease, once people have the condition, treating the bug with antibiotics doesn't prevent heart problems.

Cannon's study involved more than 4,000 patients recently hospitalized for heart problems. The patients were given either 10 days of antibiotics or fake pills every month for two years.

In the other study, about 4,000 people who had suffered a heart attack or clogged artery problems took either antibiotics or a placebo once a week for a year.

Source: Boston Herald

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