Cleveland HeartLab LLC has added a test of low-density lipoprotein, the so-called “bad cholesterol,” to its portfolio of heart-inflammation tests.
The company’s NMR LipoProfile test measures and counts LDL particles, which carry cholesterol in the blood and can build up on artery walls, leading to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.The higher the LDL particle level, the higher the risk of heart attack.
LDL-particle measurement is an important tool for the assessment and ongoing management of cardiovascular disease risk, according to a statement from Cleveland HeartLab.
The company is a clinical reference laboratory specializing in cardiovascular disease prevention, diagnosis and management. Cleveland HeartLab is developing tests for inflammation biomarkers based on research licensed from the Cleveland Clinic. It already has one Food and Drug Administration-approved test that detects an enzyme called myeloperoxidase, or MPO, in the blood. Certain levels of MPO can identify people who are at risk for heart attack, stroke or death.
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A useful inflammation marker is the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test. This is a substance produced by the body when arteries become inflamed and is a more powerful predictor of a person’s risk of a heart attack or stroke than LDL cholesterol. It is fair to say the test is not infallible as it can sometimes point to inflammation caused by other factors such as arthritis, cancer or acute infection etc. Nonetheless there are many researchers who consider atherosclerosis as an inflammatory condition similar to other degenerative diseases. Some immunologists are even categorizing atherosclerosis as a benign tumour.
Comment by Stephen Guy-Clarke — May 13, 2010 @ 7:24 am
All true. However, cardiologists increasingly recognize C-reactive protein as a marker for systemic inflammation. The Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Stanley Hazen identified myeloperoxidase as a marker specifically for cardiovascular inflammation. That’s why Hazen’s MPO test is a base technology for Cleveland HeartLab.
Comment by Mary Vanac — July 29, 2010 @ 1:23 pm
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