We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Events

09 Apr 2024 - 12 Apr 2024
15 Apr 2024 - 17 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 - 26 Apr 2024

Blood Test Predicts Silent Heart Disease Risk

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 19 Jan 2017
Print article
Image: The ARCHITECT C4000 chemical analyzer (Photo courtesy of Abbott Laboratories).
Image: The ARCHITECT C4000 chemical analyzer (Photo courtesy of Abbott Laboratories).
Coronary heart disease is the UK's single biggest killer, accounting for nearly 70,000 deaths in the UK each year. When heart muscle is damaged it leaks a protein called troponin in to the blood stream. Patients suspected of suffering a heart attack will often be given a troponin test to aide diagnosis, but until now the test has not been used to assess future heart attack risk.

Cardiac troponin is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in individuals without symptoms or signs of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms for this association are uncertain, and a role for troponin testing in the prevention of coronary heart disease has yet to be established.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh and their colleagues studied 6,595 men ages 45 to 64 years with moderate hypercholesterolemia (Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations 152 to 228 mg/dL) and no prior history of myocardial infarction to receive placebo or pravastatin 40 mg/day. Plasma was obtained before randomization and at one year, and was stored at –80 °C. For the analysis, they identified all participants with sufficient stored plasma at both time points and as a result, 3,318 of the 6,595 study participants were included.

Cardiac troponin I concentrations in stored plasma were determined at baseline and at one year using the ARCHITECT STAT high-sensitive troponin I assay. The limit of detection is 1.2 ng/L, and the interassay coefficient of variation is less than 10% at 4.7 ng/L. The upper reference limit or 99th-centile value is 34 ng/L in men. All samples underwent centrifugation twice (3,000 relative centrifugal force for 10 minutes) to ensure samples were visibly homogeneous.

The team found that changes in blood levels of a high-sensitivity troponin test from Abbott Diagnostics accurately predicted the risk of a person suffering a heart attack or dying of coronary heart disease up to 15 years later. Troponin improved the prediction of coronary heart disease risk adding to traditional markers, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure. If borne out in larger, more diverse, studies, doctors may be able to use the troponin test to determine which patients are most likely to develop coronary heart disease.

Those whose troponin levels decreased the most had a 5-fold lower risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease compared with those who troponin levels were unchanged or increased. A decrease in troponin could indicate statin treatment is effective, whereas any increases in blood troponin could prompt a change in treatment strategy. Nicholas L. Mills, MD, a professor of Cardiology and senior author of the study, said, “While blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure are important and associated with the risk of developing heart disease, troponin is a direct measure of injury to the heart. Troponin testing will help doctors to identify apparently healthy individuals who have silent heart disease so we can target preventative treatments to those who are likely to benefit most.” The study was published on December 19, 2016, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
One Step HbA1c Measuring System
GREENCARE A1c
POCT Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer
FIA Go
Gold Member
Xylazine Immunoassay Test
Xylazine ELISA

Print article

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The cobas Malaria test is the first FDA-approved molecular test to screen U.S. blood donors for malaria (Photo courtesy of Roche)

First FDA-Approved Molecular Test to Screen Blood Donors for Malaria Could Improve Patient Safety

Malaria, a serious illness that often leads to death, is spread by a specific mosquito species that infect humans with a parasite. Other transmission modes include blood transfusions, organ transplants,... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The medical office procedure detects the key biomarker in Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative diseases (Photo courtesy of BIDMC)

Simple Skin Biopsy Test Detects Parkinson’s and Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

Parkinson's disease and a group of related neurodegenerative disorders known as synucleinopathies impact millions globally. These conditions, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.