LifeCare Chiropractic

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Atherogenesis

T Helper Cell 1 Immune Responses and Atherogenesis – (07-12-01)

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T Helper Cell 1 Immune Responses and Atherogenesis

Remember from previous Updates that the body has two types of immune responses where T cells are concerned: Th1 is the attack mode designed to attack foreign things in the body and Th2 is the guard dog mode designed to keep stuff out of the body. We need a healthy balance between the two to avoid autoimmune diseases and atopy. This article looks at the contribution of Th1 to atherogenesis. Although looking at heart disease as an inflammatory condition is nothing new, viewing heart disease as having an autoimmune component is a new concept to me.

Circulation — Abstracts: Laurat et al. 104 (2): 197

Read entire article here

Emerging cardiovascular risk factors – (11-06-00)

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Emerging Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Okay…the research has been out for many years. Long enough for medical journals to be writing summaries. So why are they not becoming the standard of care? Currently, if someone is at risk for heart disease (strong family history, sedentary, overweight) all that is typically run is a lipids panel (cholesterol, triglycerides). As a patient, you need to insist on more important tests as well…homocysteine, CRP, fibrinogen…

Clin Rev Spring:33-38, 2000 Nearly 50 years ago, epidemiologists coined the term “risk factors” to characterize personal traits and living habits that indicate an increased probability of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This simplistic concept provided the means to develop strategies for preventing CVD and its complications. Recently, the term “primordial prevention” has been used to indicate prevention of the modifiable risk factors. Some indicators of risk, including age, male sex, low socioeconomic status, and family history of premature CVD, are not modifiable. For other factors, intervention has been proven to lower CVD risk or is likely to lower CVD risk. Although control or elimination of established risk factors for CVD can markedly reduce the likelihood of coronary heart disease (CHD), approximately half of all patients who have had a CHD event have no major risk factors. …many potential new markers of CHD are under investigation. It is o! ur purpose to review those emerging risk factors relevant to plaque vulnerability — markers of inflammation, infection, an atherogenic/prothrombotic state, and genetic factors. Elucidation of new markers provides possible insights into the mechanisms of atherogenesis. In time, these emerging risk factors may lead to further explanation of CHD events and new interventions.