Wuopio J, et al. - In this sub-study, researchers examined the link between serum levels of cathepsin B and S and cardiovascular events and mortality among the participants of the CLARICOR trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the impact of clarithromycin vs placebo in patients with stable coronary heart disease. Time to either a cardiovascular event or all-cause mortality was assessed as the outcome. As discovery sample and as replication sample, the placebo and the clarithromycin groups of the CLARICOR trial were used, respectively. Adjusting for inflammation, established cardiovascular risk factors, kidney function, and use of cardiovascular drugs, a pre-defined multivariable Cox regression model was used. Findings showed an increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease in relation to cathepsin B, however, no association with serum cathepsin S was found.