Study of the Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase Enzyme in Affecting the
Risk for Coronary Heart Disease The purpose of this study is to
determine whether a particular substance involved in
inflammation, called leukotrienes, is involved in causing heart
disease to occur or to progress. The focus of this study is to
better understand why some adults develop heart disease and
others do not. There are many known factors which play a role in
causing heart disease, such as diet and lifestyle. Also, we know
that inflammation, a process in the body which causes painful
joints in arthritis or swelling at a site if injury, also
contributes to heart disease. In particular, we will address
whether leukotrienes, a component of inflammation, is involved
in promoting heart disease. We will study this by giving
subjects at high risk for heart disease a drug called
montelukast which causes leukotrienes to have a reduced effect
in the body. In addition for comparison, we will give other
subjects a placebo for the same amount of time.