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Yet another study has shown that
antibiotics do not prevent repeat heart
attacks or related problems in patients
with heart disease. In the study,
researchers started patients on an
antibiotic targeting the bug Chlamydia
pneumoniae
As such, only drugs with a proven track
record should be used to prevent repeat
heart attacks in these patients, the
team concludes in The New England
Journal of Medicine.
C. pneumoniae has been found in blood
vessel plaques and its presence has been
linked to a higher risk of heart
attacks. Some studies have suggested
that antibiotic therapy may reduce the
risk of heart attacks and strokes.
To investigate further, Dr. Christopher
P. Cannon, from Brigham and Women‘s
Hospital in Boston, and colleagues
randomly assigned 4162 patients with a
recent heart attack or related problem
to take the antibiotic gatifloxacin or
inactive "placebo."
At 2-year follow-up,
gatifloxacin-treated patients were just
as likely as those given placebo to
experience another heart attack, or
stroke, or related problems. Roughly,
one quarter of patients in each group
experienced such problems
Commenting on the findings, Cannon said
while C. pneumoniae "may have played a
role in starting the process
The testing of antibiotics for the
treatment of advanced heart disease
"appears to be at the end of the road,"
writes Dr. Jeffrey L. Anderson from LDS
Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, in an
editorial. |
