Dr. Anthony Komaroff

From Rutgers Medical Informatics History Project

Name: Dr. Anthony Komaroff

Elected ACMI Fellow:

Birthdate:

Degrees: 1967 MD University of Washington

Current Position: Simcox-Clifford-Higby professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School; Editor-in-chief of Harvard Health Publications at HMS

Current email: anthony_komaroff@hms.harvard.edu

Professional Affiliations:

Professional Activities:

Honors and Awards:

Other Works:

Other Information:

Curriculum Vitae:

Selected Publications:

Role of infection and neurologic dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Komaroff AL, Cho TA.
Semin Neurol. 2011 Jul;31(3):325-37. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1287654. Epub 2011 Sep 30.
PMID: 21964849

Failure to Confirm XMRV/MLVs in the Blood of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Multi-Laboratory Study.
Simmons G, Glynn SA, Komaroff AL, Mikovits JA, Tobler LH, Hackett J Jr, Tang N, Switzer WM, Heneine W, Hewlett IK, Zhao J, Lo SC, Alter HJ, Linnen JM, Gao K, Coffin JM, Kearney MF, Ruscetti FW, Pfost MA, Bethel J, Kleinman S, Holmberg JA, Busch MP; for the Blood XMRV Scientific Research Working Group (SRWG).
Science. 2011 Sep 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 21940862


Chronic fatigue syndrome: understanding a complex illness.
Holgate ST, Komaroff AL, Mangan D, Wessely S.
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2011 Jul 27;12(9):539-44. doi: 10.1038/nrn3087. Review.
PMID: 21792218

EEG spectral coherence data distinguish chronic fatigue syndrome patients from healthy controls and depressed patients--a case control study.
Duffy FH, McAnulty GB, McCreary MC, Cuchural GJ, Komaroff AL.
BMC Neurol. 2011 Jul 1;11:82.
PMID: 21722376

Ask the doctor. My doctor recently advised me to start taking an 81-mg aspirin once a day. I am physically active 62-year-old and have been a vegetarian-mostly vegan-for 35 years. My BMI is less than 24, my HDL is over 70, and my\
 Framingham risk score is 8%. My only problems are systolic blood pressure in the 130s and an occasional episode of arrhythmia. I'd really rather not take aspirin. Am I being foolish in questioning my doctor's advice?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2011 May;36(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 21702110

Ask the doctor. A friend has sarcoidosis. How bad a disease is it? Can it be prevented and treated effectively?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2011 Apr;36(6):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 21563340

Ask the doctor. I'm 70 and exercise 30 minutes a day. I've heard that creatine supplements might help build muscle strength. Is there anything to it?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2011 Apr;36(6):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 21560284

Ask the doctor. Because of the recent news about Avandia, my physician has advised me to stop taking it. Is that wise?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2011 Jan;36(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 21344684

By the way, doctor. I've heard that statin drugs can cause muscle damage. Since the heart is a muscle, why don't statins cause heart damage?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2010 Nov;36(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 21140944

Review Part 3: Human herpesvirus-6 in multiple non-neurological diseases.
Ablashi DV, Devin CL, Yoshikawa T, Lautenschlager I, Luppi M, KC<hl U, Komaroff AL.
J Med Virol. 2010 Nov;82(11):1903-10. Review. No abstract available.
PMID: 20872717

Review part 2: Human herpesvirus-6 in central nervous system diseases.
Yao K, Crawford JR, Komaroff AL, Ablashi DV, Jacobson S.
J Med Virol. 2010 Oct;82(10):1669-78. Review. No abstract available.
PMID: 20827763


etection of MLV-related virus gene sequences in blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy blood donors.
Lo SC, Pripuzova N, Li B, Komaroff AL, Hung GC, Wang R, Alter HJ.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Sep 7;107(36):15874-9. Epub 2010 Aug 23. Erratum in: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Nov 2;107(44):19132.
PMID: 20798047

Review, part 1: Human herpesvirus-6-basic biology, diagnostic testing, and antiviral efficacy.
Flamand L, Komaroff AL, Arbuckle JH, Medveczky PG, Ablashi DV.
J Med Virol. 2010 Sep;82(9):1560-8. Review. No abstract available.
PMID: 20648610

By the way, doctor. I'm in my mid-80s and am infected with H. pylori, the "ulcer bacteria." I don't have any symptoms and have heard that half of everyone over age 60 tests positive for H. pylori and that many people never develo\
p ulcers. Do I need to be treated?
Komaroff A.
Harv Health Lett. 2010 May;35(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 20589963

By the way, doctor. I'm in good health and have a good lipid profile but occasionally have a yearning for brisket or corned beef. I recently read that even one meal heavy in fat could cause atherosclerosis. What do you think?
Komaroff A.
Harv Health Lett. 2010 May;35(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 20583363

By the way, doctor. I take a statin. Should I be taking coenzyme Q(10) to protect myself against the muscle pain that statins can cause?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2010 Feb;35(4):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 20376911

By the way, doctor. I have read that people who have had their gallbladders removed should take bile salts. My gallbladder was removed many years ago, and no doctor has said I should take bile salts. Should I?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2010 Feb;35(4):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 20373544

By the way, doctor. I have heard that doctors feel men over 60 shouldn't be treated for prostate cancer because they're old enough that they are going to die anyway. Is that so?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2010 Jan;35(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 20217905

By the way, doctor. I am 85 and have taken an 81-mg aspirin each day for decades for heart attack prevention. Recently, I noticed these words on the label: "Stop using if you get ringing in your ears or loss of hearing." Should I\
 be worried?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2010 Jan;35(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 20213941

The latent human herpesvirus-6A genome specifically integrates in telomeres of human chromosomes in vivo and in vitro.
Arbuckle JH, Medveczky MM, Luka J, Hadley SH, Luegmayr A, Ablashi D, Lund TC, Tolar J, De Meirleir K, Montoya JG, Komaroff AL, Ambros PF, Medveczky PG.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Mar 23;107(12):5563-8. Epub 2010 Mar 8.
PMID: 20212114

By the way, doctor. A recent "Health Letter" urged us seniors to stay mentally active because that causes the growth of new neurons (brain cells). When my husband had a stroke 40 years ago, doctors told me that the brain cannot m\
ake new cells in later life. What's the truth?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2009 Nov;35(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 20063439

By the way, doctor. I have been diagnosed with temporal arteritis and am being treated with a drug called prednisone, which the doctor says is a steroid. I know athletes use steroids to bulk up, and I can't see how that would hav\
e anything to do with temporal arteritis. Can you explain?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2009 Nov;35(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 20058392

Antibody to parvovirus B19 nonstructural protein is associated with chronic arthralgia in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Kerr JR, Gough J, Richards SC, Main J, Enlander D, McCreary M, Komaroff AL, Chia JK.
J Gen Virol. 2010 Apr;91(Pt 4):893-7. Epub 2009 Dec 9.
PMID: 20007355

Summary of the 6th International Conference on HHV-6 and -7.
Komaroff AL, Ablashi D, Jacobson S.
Herpes. 2008 Nov;15(2):36-8.
PMID: 19856547

By the way, doctor. Recently, my dog bit me on the hand. When I showed up at my doctor's office several days later, he told me I had waited too long. Should I have gone to the doctor sooner?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2009 Sep;34(11):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19847925

By the way, doctor. I've heard that you can treat diabetes by taking an extract from cinnamon. I suspect this is snake oil, but is there anything to it?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2009 Sep;34(11):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19845052

Executive physicals: what's the ROI?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Bus Rev. 2009 Sep;87(9):28, 30, 118.
PMID: 19736852

By the way, doctor. About 10 years ago, you published an article saying that Ginkgo biloba might slow down dementia. I was 59, and I started taking it. I think it has helped me and know others who think likewise. But I read that \
a recent study says it doesn't help. Your thoughts?
Komaroff A.
Harv Health Lett. 2009 May;34(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19562858


By the way, doctor. I've been taking omega-3 fats and have two big bruises. Even small doses of aspirin cause me to bruise. My doctor is not concerned, but should I be?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2009 Apr;34(6):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19469011

By the way, doctor. I'm 65, and I don't think my memory is as good as it once was. I read about a study that says you can improve your memory by eating less. Is there any truth to it? It sounds too good to be true.
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2009 Apr;34(6):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19462530

By the way, doctor. Within a three-month period, both my sister and her husband (both in their 40s) were hospitalized with pulmonary embolisms. Any thoughts on the cause? Could it be something in the air?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2009 Mar;34(5):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19378474

Will stem cells finally deliver?
Scadden DT, Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2008 Dec 15;152(24):57-8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19105310

By the way, doctor. I have pernicious anemia, and I get a monthly injection of vitamin B12. I have heard that there may be a pill that I could take instead. Is that true?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2008 Oct;33(12):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19062341

By the way, doctor. I am scheduled to have a colonoscopy soon. Does the examination reach the ileum?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2008 Oct;33(12):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19058406

By the way, doctor. I heard about a study that found people who sleep six and a half to seven hours a night will live longer that those sleeping eight to nine. What is the right amount of sleep?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2008 Nov;34(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19034987

By the way, doctor. How is it possible for someone with significant coronary artery disease to perform well on a cardiac stress test? Wouldn't there be some signs of trouble?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2008 Nov;34(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 19031638

By the way, doctor. I was treated for two weeks with antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor when I had an H.pylori infection. I've continued with the proton inhibitor to cut down on stomach acid. Could that be harmful?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2008 Jul;33(9):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 18777657

Health for life. A deadly disparity. Blacks are more likely than whites to die of breast and prostate cancer. Researchers want to know why.
Wehrwein P, Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2008 Jun 23;151(25):52-3. No abstract available.
PMID: 18711890

Health for life. Your lifestyle, your genes, and cancer.
Weinberg RA, Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2008 Jun 23;151(25):40-3. No abstract available.
PMID: 18711886

By the way, doctor. Celebrex and bleeding.
Komaroff A.
Harv Health Lett. 2008 May;33(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 18700242

By the way, doctor. Calcium supplements and heart attack risk.
Komaroff A.
Harv Health Lett. 2008 May;33(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 18697272

By the way, doctor. I am 92 and have poor blood circulation and an irregular heartbeat. Is it okay for me to take 500 milligrams of L-arginine a day?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Nov;33(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 18240369

By the way, doctor. My platelet count has always been on the low side--110,000. I don't have any symptoms. But a recent lab report mentioned "giant platelets." Is this something to worry about?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Nov;33(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 18232115

By the way, doctor. First it was Vioxx and now Avandia. Why can't doctors and the government screen out unsafe medicines?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Aug;32(10):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17717896

By the way, doctor. I am 78, and for about 10 years, I have been taking an 81-mg aspirin every morning with a glass of grapefruit juice. I heard that it's not a good idea to drink grapefruit juice with some blood-thinning drugs. \
Is that true of aspirin too?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Jun;32(8):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17639625

By the way, doctor. I was diagnosed with asthma five years ago, and my doctor prescribed an inhaler to use daily. I haven't had any symptoms for a year now, even though I stopped using my inhaler. Can asthma go away?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 May;32(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17577940



By the way, doctor. I read about a study at UCLA in which men with type 2 diabetes were in a program combining aerobic exercise, low-fat diets, and relatively high amount of "good" carbohydrates. Half of them cured their diabetes\
. Is this possible?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 May;32(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17575615

By the way, doctor. I am 80 and am taking a 40-milligram Crestor pill every day. Recently I saw a Crestor ad that said blood tests should be done to monitor for possible side effects of liver or muscle injury. Can you tell me som\
ething about those tests?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Mar;32(5):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17390496

What the doctors do.
Wehrwein P, Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2007 Mar 26;149(13):63-4, 66. No abstract available.
PMID: 19130830

By the way, doctor. I have celiac disease, and the disease has weakened my bones. But I'm male; I thought thin bones were primarily a problem for women? And why should a disease of my intestines affect my bones? Finally, what can\
 be done about it?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Feb;32(4):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17330328

By the way, doctor. How do B vitamins lower your homocysteine level, and how important is it to have a normal level?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Feb;32(4):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17328141

By the way, doctor. Two of my friends suffer from kidney stones. Each was advised to give up tea. I drink a lot of tea. Am I in danger of getting kidney stones?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Jan;32(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17326262

By the way, doctor. I'm having pains on the side of my face, and my doctor says that it's postherpetic neuralgia. But I am puzzled because I had a rash on the inside of my arm, but not on my face. Should I be?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2007 Jan;32(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17323500

By the way, doctor. A friend recently recommended that I take the herb ginkgo biloba to protect against getting dementia. Is it effective, and is it safe?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Dec;32(2):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17299847

By the way, doctor. My doctor told me my heart is growing. He says there is no cure. Do you know of anything to reverse or slow down the growing heart? I am an 86-year-old World War II veteran.
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Nov;32(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17283483

Is human herpesvirus-6 a trigger for chronic fatigue syndrome?
Komaroff AL.
J Clin Virol. 2006 Dec;37 Suppl 1:S39-46. Review.
PMID: 17276367

Can we slow aging?
Sinclair D, Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2006 Dec 11;148(24):80, 82, 84. No abstract available.
PMID: 17186892

Highlights from 5th International Conference on HHV-6 and -7.
Komaroff AL, Jacobson S, Ablashi DV, Yamanishi K.
Herpes. 2006 Nov;13(3):81-2.
PMID: 17147913

By the way, doctor. How much alcohol is in a drink? I drink at least two jiggers (three ounces) of gin most days, and lately, I've been drinking three. Is that too much? I understand that women are more easily affected by alcohol\
 than men.
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Sep;31(11):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17139763

By the way, doctor. Is it possible to have one or more TIAs in the past four years and not have them show up in four MRIs?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Sep;31(11):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 17136806

Digital age. Next: paperless medicine.
Bates DW, Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2006 Oct 16;148(16):63. No abstract available.
PMID: 17069448

By the way, doctor. I would be most grateful for information concerning chronic fatigue syndrome, a disorder from which I have suffered for the past 10 years. Do you see any help on the horizon?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Aug;31(10):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16927463

By the way, doctor. I am 81 with no history of heart problems. I recently developed atrial fibrillation and now take half of a 25-mg tablet of atenolol. The doctor says it's working, but it makes me extremely tired. Could you sug\
gest another medication that I might have better luck with?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Aug;31(10):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16924769



By the way, doctor. What exactly is dehydration? It put me in the hospital after a mild flulike illness. How can I avoid it in the future?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Jul;31(9):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16917964

Breakthrough in silencing "bad" genes.
Komaroff AL.
MedGenMed. 2006 Mar 31;8(1):88. No abstract available.
PMID: 16915218

Personalized genomics gets closer.
Komaroff A.
MedGenMed. 2006 Feb 24;8(1):55. No abstract available.
PMID: 16915185

By the way, doctor. A recent test showed I have some hip osteopenia. Now every day I take two Tums Ultra (800 mg of calcium) plus a multivitamin (200 mg of calcium). I also get a total of 800 International Units (IU) of vitamin D\
 daily. I've been advised that Tums aren't sufficient. Do I need to switch to a more expensive calcium supplement?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Apr;31(6):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16683300

By the way, doctor. I've read recently that organic coconut oil has health benefits. Could coconut oil improve lipid profiles if consumed every day?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Apr;31(6):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16680851

By the way, doctor. I take Pravachol to control my cholesterol, and because of high triglycerides, my doctor wants to add TriCor. But my pharmacist warns against taking both medications. If I don't take TriCor, are there alternat\
ives?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Mar;30(5):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16528800

By the way, doctor. Many years ago my doctor recommended that I take two 400-IU vitamin E pills each day for leg cramps. Now I hear that vitamin E may increase my risk for heart disease, and I already have had heart problems. Wha\
t should I do?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Mar;30(5):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16526115

By the way, doctor. I've had thrush three times this year. I read that it can be connected to stress, but also to serious diseases. One doctor told me I was "somatizing." What is thrush and could it be related to something?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2006 Jan;31(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16450451

By the way, doctor. I am a 73-year-old male. I've been diabetic for 50 years, and had a quintuple bypass eight years ago. I try to get an hour of exercise on a treadmill each day. While working out a couple of days ago, I develop\
ed a sudden sharp pain on my left side at about chest level, toward my back. Naturally I stopped, but I wondered when a person like me should call 911.
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Dec;31(2):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16440457

Health for life. Beyond the horizon.
Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2005 Dec 12;146(24):82, 84. No abstract available.
PMID: 16375172

Health for life. The man who lost his face.
Murray JE, Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2005 Dec 12;146(24):61. No abstract available.
PMID: 16375166

Health for life. Genomic medicine: the science speeds up.
Komaroff AL, Labaer J.
Newsweek. 2005 Dec 12;146(24):57. No abstract available.
PMID: 16375163

Technology's limits.
Komaroff A.
Newsweek. 2005 Summer;145(26A):88. No abstract available.
PMID: 16375160

Your health in the 21st century. Silencing bad genes.
Komaroff A, Lieberman J.
Newsweek. 2005 Summer;145(26A):51-2. No abstract available.
PMID: 16375146

By the way, doctor. Do you think flu shots might also prevent lung cancer?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Oct;30(12):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16278982

By the way, doctor. Should I worry if new colon polyps appear where previous ones have been removed?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Sep;30(11):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16247836

By the way, doctor. My systolic blood pressure is 40 points higher in winter than in the summer (160-180 versus 120-140 mm Hg). Do the seasons affect blood pressure.
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Sep;30(11):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16245402

By the way, doctor. When I walk for about a mile, my leg muscles suddenly get very weak--so weak I can hardly walk. After 10-15 minutes of rest, the muscles go back to normal and I can continue for another mile or so. I am trying\
 magnesium pills. Can you think of anything that might be causing this sudden weakness?

omaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Aug;30(10):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16208774

By the way, doctor. My wife and I both recently suffered mild strokes. Although we are both recovering, we'd like to consult a physician who specializes in the treatment and prevention of strokes. What medical specialty is devote\
d to this?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Aug;30(10):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16206390

By the way, doctor. I read your item about eggs in the April 2005 issue with great interest. My husband has type 2 diabetes and has started eating two eggs about three times a week. He's looking to fill up on low-carb foods he li\
kes. You mentioned that eggs may not be a good idea for people with diabetes. Should he cut back?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Jul;30(9):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16161250

Another kind of AAA.
Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2003 Jun 16;141(24):52. No abstract available.
PMID: 16116728

By the way, doctor. I'm 73, in generally good health, but bothered by frequent colds and respiratory infections. I suspect I have a weakened immune system. Are there tests that will tell me if that is so?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 May;30(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16044516

By the way, doctor. I'm confused. I've read your articles about heart disease being caused by inflammation. If the COX-2 drugs are anti-inflammatory, why do they seem to make heart disease worse, not better?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 May;30(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 16041850

Unexplained suffering in the aftermath of war.
Komaroff AL.
Ann Intern Med. 2005 Jun 7;142(11):938-9. No abstract available.
PMID: 15941702

By the way, doctor. I'm 86, and someone told me that I"m no longer in danger of getting Alzheimer's disease. My memory isn't quite what it was, though. Would Alzheimer's medicines help?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Apr;30(6):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15846851

By the way, doctor. Ever since the 1960s, I haven't eaten more than one egg a week because egg yolks have a lot of cholesterol. Now my wife says she heard on the news that it's okay to eat eggs every day. What do you think?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Apr;30(6):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15844245

By the way, doctor. I take 20 mg of Lipitor and 10 mg of Zetia. My total cholesterol has declined from 177 to 145, my LDL from 133 to 93, but my "good" HDL cholesterol also went down from 46 to 41. Would you consider my low HDL l\
evel a large risk factor? If so, is there a regimen that would increase it?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Jan;30(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15779120

By the way, doctor. My sister passed away from a brain aneurysm several months ago. She was just 33. My doctor says I have nothing to worry about because it's not hereditary. Still, I'm worried. Do I and other close relatives nee\
d to be checked?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Feb;30(4):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15779098

By the way, doctor. I recently started taking Lipitor for high cholesterol. The label says: "Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice at any time while taking this medication." My doctor didn't warn me about grapefruit. Se\
veral medically trained friends have never heard of such a thing. I love grapefruit. Is there really anything to worry about?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Feb;30(4):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15776510

By the way, doctor. My CRP was 4 in April and rose to 5 in June. I've taken niacin to lower my LDL. It didn't work for that, but did increase my HDL and lower my triglycerides. My question: besides taking a statin, what can I do \
to lower my CRP?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2005 Jan;30(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15773008

By the way, doctor. My 81-year-old husband has been diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm that's 5.3 centimeters wide. His doctors say there's a magic number at which surgery is done, but I'm questioning why they can't do s\
omething sooner. My husband is generally in good health, so he shouldn't be a poor candidate for surgery.
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Dec;30(2):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15700350

Tick, tick, tick... Medical 'time bombs' often go undetected until it's too late. What you need to know.
Komaroff AL, Winshall JS.
Newsweek. 2004 Dec 6

Computer assisted instruction for teaching clinical decision-making. Comput
Biomed Res. 1974 Dec;7(6):564b(23):56, 59. No abstract available.
PMID: 15605721

By the way, doctor. When I read that President Clinton learned for the first time in early September that he had severe heart disease, I was shocked. His health must have been monitored as closely as anyone's. How could something\
 this serious have escaped his doctors notice? An how can someone who looked so healthy and vigorous as he did in July at the Democratic Convention actually be living with an unrecognized disease that could take his life at any m\
oment?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Nov;30(1):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15556927


By the way, doctor. I have phlebotomies every six months to manage my hemochromatosis. At my most recent bloodletting, a fibrous clot came out after the nurse removed the needle from my forearm. It seems to me that such clotting \
presents an unnecessary risk for ischemic stroke. What do you think?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Oct;29(12):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15496379

By the way, doctor. I have been taking two Advil tablets two or three times per day to reduce pain and inflammation in my knees. Could it be harmful to do this for an extended period of time, say a year?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Oct;29(12):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15496378

By the way, doctor. My sister-in-law's blood tests showed that she has a low platelet count. Her doctors thought the problem might be her blood pressure medication, but ultimately reached a diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenic pu\
rpura. What could have given her this disease? How often will she need platelet transfusions? Is there a cure?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Sep;29(11):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15381492

By the way, doctor. I am a 67-year-old woman. I walk three miles five or six times a week and swim for half an hour every day. I take a diuretic for high blood pressure, a calcium supplement, and vitamins C and E. My HDL level is\
 usually over 100, but it was up to 147 in my most recent cholesterol test (my total cholesterol was 223 and my LDL was 68). Should I be celebrating or worried about an unusually high HDL?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Sep;29(11):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15381491

By the way, doctor. Is the large-cuff blood pressure device that I've heard about better than the ones with the conventional cuff?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Aug;29(10):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15325993

By the way, doctor. I'm 77 and in good health. I believe I'm particularly welcome at the blood bank because I have O-negative blood. I give blood several times a year. At my age, how frequently is it wise to give?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Aug;29(10):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15325992

By the way, doctor. I'm 70 and recently heard about a new blood test for something called lipoprotein(a) that might help determine if I'll get heart disease. Should I get this blood test?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Jul;29(9):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15273044

By the way, doctor. I've heard that statins lower calcium levels in the blood. Should I take a calcium supplement to make up for the deficit and protect my bones, or is low calcium healthy because calcium is a component of the pl\
aque in arteries that causes heart attacks?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Jun;29(8):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15210432

How to think about HT.
Col N, Komaroff AL.
Newsweek. 2004 May 10;143(19):80-1. No abstract available.
PMID: 15164557

By the way, doctor. My neighbor is about 80. She keeps getting run down because her body can't retain iron. Can you offer any advice that will help her?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 May;29(7):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15153402

High prevalence of metabolic syndrome among young women with nonfatal myocardial infarction.
Amowitz LL, Ridker PM, Rifai N, Loughrey CM, Komaroff AL.
J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2004 Mar;13(2):165-75; discussion 175.
PMID: 15072730

By the way, doctor. I get mail extolling the virtues of chelation therapy. The claim is that it removes calcium and other metals from the walls of arteries. The key element appears to be EDTA. Since vinegar is also primarily acet\
ic acid, I'm curious whether it could have the same effect.
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Mar;29(5):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 15044137

A comparison of pregnancies that occur before and after the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Schacterle RS, Komaroff AL.
Arch Intern Med. 2004 Feb 23;164(4):401-4.
PMID: 14980991

By the way, doctor. Why do doctors try to determine if a person has heart disease by asking about smoking, high cholesterol, or family history? Why can't they just examine the heart and blood vessels directly, and get a precise a\
nswer?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Jan;29(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 14734290

By the way, doctor. Much is made about high blood pressure, but little is said when it's really low. At what levels are systolic and diastolic readings considered too low? Are there any symptoms? What about treatments?
Komaroff AL.
Harv Health Lett. 2004 Jan;29(3):8. No abstract available.
PMID: 14734289

Unraveling the secrets of the cell.
Komaroff AL, Ruvkun G.
Newsweek. 2003 Dec 8;142(23):96. No abstract available.
PMID: 14712576

Research. Finding out what works.
Kaptchuk T, Eisenberg D, Komaroff A.
Newsweek. 2002 Dec 2;140(23):73. No abstract available.

PMID: 12501519

Pondering the placebo effect.
Kaptchuk T, Eisenberg D, Komaroff A.
Newsweek. 2002 Dec 2;140(23):71, 73. No abstract available.
PMID: 12501518

Prevalence of allergen-specific IgE among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Kowal K, Schacterele RS, Schur PH, Komaroff AL, DuBuske LM.
Allergy Asthma Proc. 2002 Jan-Feb;23(1):35-9.
PMID: 11894732

Newsweek February 23, 2009 "Stress could save your life"

Newsweek December 7, 2010 "The Race to grow new organs"

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/12/07/future-of-medicine-growing-new-organs.html

Books

Common Acute Illnesses: a Problem-Oriented Textbook with Protocols (ed), 1977

Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide (ed), 1999, 2005

Growing Pathogens in Tissue Cultures: Fifty Years in Academic Tropical Medicine, Pediatrics, and Virology (ed), 2003

Medical Tests: A pratical guide to common tests (Special Health Report) by M.D., Anthony L. Komaroff (Digital - Jun 1, 2004)

Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide by Harvard Medical School and Anthony L. Komaroff (Paperback - Dec 28, 2004)

Harvard Medical School Boosting Your Energy by David M. Dawson M.D. and Anthony L. Komaroff M.D. (Paperback - Jun 30, 2008)

Boosting Your Energy (Special Health Report) by David M. Dawson M.D. and Anthony L. Komaroff M.D. (Digital - Jan 1, 2002) 

Cost-effective strategies in ambulatory care: Final report by Anthony L Komaroff (Unknown Binding - 1981)

Medical Tests: A practical guide to common tests by Anthony L. Komaroff and M.D. (Single Issue Magazine - Jun 30, 2004)

Additional Media:
Dr. Komaroff discusses the latest research on CFS in 2010 and the [http://infohistory.rutgers.edu/video/komaroff/Questions_PIP.mp4 Q and A] from that lecture. Also, Dr. Komaroff advises on [http://infohistory.rutgers.edu/video/komaroff/SwineFluPrecautions-truncated.mp4 swine flu precautions] for HMS. (from cdc.gov)

Sources: