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Anti-Inflammatory Prevents Heart Attacks
Article

Anti-Inflammatory Prevents Heart Attacks

By vindicating theory, antibody result points to new approaches to protecting the heart

Jennifer Couzin-Frankel
Science, 2017
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7

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  • Innovative
  • Scientific

Recommendation

Would you pay a premium for a drug that could reduce heart disease and lung cancer? Early evidence suggests that a juvenile arthritis drug might offer hope to people at high risk for heart attacks and strokes. The anti-inflammatory properties of canakinumab might prevent atherosclerosis that leads to heart attacks. getAbstract suggests this article to those with an interest in the inflammation theory of heart disease.

Summary

What is the connection between inflammation and heart attacks?

Immune cells such as macrophages, a type of white blood cell, set off a complex set of events. These immune cells trigger arterial plaque by migrating into blood vessels. When arterial plaque builds up, it can block and rupture resulting in heart attacks.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker for inflammation. Previous research showed that people with elevated levels of CRP in their blood tend to be at high...

About the Author

Jennifer Couzin-Frankel, a Science Magazine staff writer since 2002, attended Harvard University.

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