Is atheroma a reversible lesion?

141

Atherosclerosis, 25 (1976) 141 0 Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands

Letter

tot the Editors

IS ATHEROMA

A REVERSIBLE

LESION?

Sirs,

We agree with Gresham that “certain forms of atheroma can be induced to regress” [ 11. The first human examples of this regression will probably come from the cardiac rehabilitation programs which utilize marathon running since they involve the most severe changes in life style and eliminate most of the known atherogenie factors. We estimate that five years or 10,000 miles of endurance running will result in improved angioprograms. Already, patients with 3,000 and 5,000 miles have finished endurance runs of 42 km [2] and 80 km [3] distances. Although repeat angiograms have yet to be reported in such patients, we are encouraged by the absence of fatal atherosclerosis among marathon finishers [41. References 1 2 3 4

Gresham. G.A.. Is atheroma Nixon, P.G.F., Exercise and Bassler. T.J., Quality of life, Noakes, T.D.. Opie, L.H..

a reversible lesion? Atherosclerosis. the heart, Lancet. 1 (1976) 639. West. J. Med., 124 (1976) 343. Marathon runners and impending

American Medical Joggers Association, Box 4 704, North Hollywood, Calif. 91607 (U.S.A.) (Received 22 July, 1976) (Accepted 22 July, 1976)

23 (1976)

379.

heart-attacks,

Lance&

1 (1976)

1020.

Thomas J. Bassler, M.D.