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HELSINKI, FINLAND. Inflammation and infection have been implicated as causative
factors in atherosclerosis and heart attack (myocardial infarction). Researchers at the
National Public Health Institute have just released a major report that confirms the
connection and actually pinpoints the specific bacteria and viruses most likely to be
involved. The study consisted of 241 white, middle-aged men with high cholesterol levels
who had either suffered a heart attack or died from coronary heart disease during an 8.5-
year period. The cases were matched with 241 controls who had not had any heart
problems during the same period. Blood samples taken at baseline were analyzed for
antibodies to common bacteria and viruses; the level of C-reactive protein (CRP), a
systemic marker for inflammation, was also measured.
The researchers conclude that high levels of antibodies to the bacterium Chlamydia
pneumoniae and the herpes simplex 1 virus are associated with an increased risk of
heart attack and coronary death. They found no correlation between the antibody levels
to adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus, and Helicobacter pylori and the risk of
heart disease. The level of CRP was found to be significantly higher in the cases than in
the controls and a combination of high CRP levels and a high level of antibodies to the
herpes virus conferred a 25-fold increase in risk. Smoking further increased the risk
associated with Chlamydia and herpes infections especially in the case of
Chlamydia infection.
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