Atherosclerosis

There is cardiology website that lists atherosclerotic risk assessment panel:chlamydia pneumonia by pcr,cytomegalovirus by pcr,helicobacter pylori by pcr and c-reactive protein.What's your opinion about these atherosclerotic risk assessment panel?Should people be tested with the above tests for prevention of cad? What's the difference between iga,igg,igm and pcr and can person be tested with iga,igg,igm instead of pcr for prevention of cad?Thanks

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Bob !,

Thanks for the post.  Would you mind listing the site in a comment?

The first three items you mentioned deal with testing for past or chronic infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae, Cytomegalovirus, and Helicobacter pylori.  The fourth item (CRP) is a marker of inflammation in the body.  The first three tests have been inconsistently related to atherosclerosis -- the most convincing study appeared in Circulation last year.  This study showed that if all the markers were positive, then a person had a higher likelihood of atherosclerosis.  Unfortunately, randomized trials have not demonstrated a treatment benefit with the antibiotics used to treat these infections.  The WIZARD trial was a well-performed study that showed no benefit with antibiotics.  For now, most reputable cardiologists do not recommend testing for the first 3 items.

CRP, on the other hand, has been conclusively associated with a person's risk for heart attack.  Furthermore, CRP is probably reduced by taking "Statins", the cholesterol lowering drugs.  Most cardiologists at the Cleveland Clinic utilize this biomarker in decision making.

Don't waste your money on the first three markers, the fourth may or may not be useful to you depending on your other history.

Hope that helps.