In light of growing evidence suggesting a link between a common bacterial infection and heart disease, researchers are about to begin a major clinical trial to determine whether antibiotics are effective in the treatment of heart disease. A number of recent research findings have suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae -- a type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia -- may also play a role in the development of atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty plaque in the arteries leading to the heart. Approximately 27 clinical centers nationwide will participate in the study, funded through a $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, and Pfizer Corporation. Researchers at the centers will follow an estimated 4,000 volunteers whose angiograms show evidence of heart disease or who have had a heart attack. For a year, volunteers will be given either the antibiotic azithromycin or (an inactive) placebo. The researchers will follow the volunteers for 4 years, "to monitor for any coronary events, including hospitalization for heart pain, coronary artery bypass grafting, angioplasty, heart attack, or death due to complications of coronary artery disease," according to a university statement.

COMMENT: This approach may be similar to the antibiotic therapy that has successfully treated well over 100,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. You can see my physician protocol at It is very similar in that the infection treated with rheumatoid arthritis is mycoplasma which is closely related to Chlamydia. Of course, this study will not address the reasons as to why the people acquired the infection. It is NOT because they had an antibiotic deficiency. The poor diet combined with emotional and spiritual stresses are usually the root causes; when one integrates those factors into the treatment, results are much better.