An increased anti-Cp antibody titre may be a predictor for further adverse cardiovascular events in post-MI patients. Taking a short course of azithromycin may lower this risk, possibly by acting against Cp.

Objective-To investigate the relation between seropositivity to chronic infections with Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia pneumoniae and both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors.Design-Cross sectional study of a population based random sample of men. Coronary heart disease was assessed by electrocardiography, Rose angina questionnaire, and a history of myocardial infarction; serum antibody levels to H pylori and C pneumoniae were measured, risk factor levels determined, and a questionnaire administered.Setting Seropositivity to C pneumoniae was independently associated with raised fibrinogen and malondialdehyde concentrations.Conclusions-Both H pylori and C pneumoniae infections are associated with coronary heart disease. These relations are not explained by a wide range of confounding factors. Possible mechanisms include an increase in risk factor levels due to a low grade chronic inflammatory response.

Patients with a diagnosis of heart failure, registered at the study practice, were recruited into the study. First, they had a cardiologist's assessment. They were then randomised into telemonitored patients who measured pulse, BP, weight and video consulted, and controls. Aim: To examine the acceptability, effectiveness and reliability of home telemonitoring. Results: A Ž . high proportion of those invited took part n s 20r24 . Compliance with measuring weight, pulse and BP remained high throughout the study. The data collection system and secure web-server were reliable. The telemonitoring group complied better with collecting prescriptions for their cardiac drugs. Video consulting started with enthusiasm, but became less useful. Ž . Ž . There were no significant differences in the quality of life GHQ and Chronic Heart Failure Guyatt questionnaire scores between the telemonitored group and the controls. Conclusions: Home telemonitoring is an acceptable reliable intervention. Baseline rates for compliance with self-monitoring are set out in this study. Benefit in terms of compliance with medication and self-monitoring is still seen after 1 year. Video consulting over ordinary telephone lines did not show sustained benefit, and was not complied with. ᮊ

Objective-To investigate whether monocyte expression of tissue factor is increased in patients with acute coronary syndromes and chronic stable angina.

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In unstable angina patients who stabilize medically, subsequent short-term stenosis progression and coronary events are common. The unstable coronary lesion (particularly complex stenoses) is often not stabilized and will continue to progress over the ensuing months.

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Conclusion-This study has demonstrated a hypercoagulable state in patients with CRF. This was especially pronounced in the dialysis patients. These findings provide a possible explanation for the increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality in these patients.