SkinSterols predict metabolic syndrome

[Guest guest]

Metabolic syndrome is not something many of us here need to worry

about, but I hadn't heard of skin steol tests as predictive of MS.

Anyone had such a test?

http://tinyurl.com/an7ya

Two Novel Cardiac Markers, when Elevated Together, Predict

Likelihood of Metabolic Syndrome - a Contributor to Coronary Artery

Disease

MONTREAL, CANADA -- October 24, 2005 -- A study presented today at

the annual Canadian Cardiovascular Congress reveals that patients

with high levels of skin sterol (STC) in combination with high

levels of C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are at almost twice the risk of

having metabolic syndrome, even after adjustment for age and gender.

An estimated one-quarter of adult Canadians (eight million people)

are affected by metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is defined by the National Cholesterol Education

Program - Adult Treatment Panel III as the presence of at least

three out of five key risk factors. The greater the number of risk

factors, the more at risk a patient is. The five risk factors are:

- Increased waist circumference (greater than 102 cm for men;

greater than 88 cm for women)

- Elevated levels of triglycerides (blood fats)

- Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol

- Blood pressure (greater than or equal to 130/85 mmHg)

- Impaired fasting glucose (insulin resistance)

" One of the biggest challenges we as cardiologists face is not so

much determining if our patients are at risk for coronary artery

disease, but how at risk they are, " says Dr. Milan Gupta, principal

investigator of the study and Assistant Clinical Professor,

Department of Medicine, McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario,

and Cardiologist, Division of Cardiology, Osler Health

Centre, in Brampton, Ontario.

" This study shows us that if an at-risk patient tests high on skin

sterol and C-reactive protein, they are likely at greater risk of

metabolic syndrome and therefore, at a higher risk for coronary

artery disease. After further study, we may learn that these

patients warrant more aggressive treatment. "

Skin sterol (or skin tissue cholesterol) is non-invasively measured

with PREVU(x) Point of Care (POC) Skin Sterol Test. When used in

combination with tools that measure C-reactive protein (a protein

found in the blood) it can reveal an increased prevalence of

metabolic syndrome.

Previous studies have demonstrated that skin sterol testing can

detect hardening or narrowing of the arteries. Research also has

shown that it can help identify increased risk of coronary artery

disease in patients who have no signs or symptoms of heart disease.

" PREVU(x) POC is a fast, simple test that adds value to the arsenal

of assessment tools used by physicians to determine a patient's

cardiovascular risk level, " adds Gupta. " It can give physicians a

clearer picture about whether the patient is at low, moderate or

elevated risk. "

The abstract presented at the conference in Montreal, Quebec was,

Skin Tissue Cholesterol and C-Reactive Protein are Associated with

Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects with Coronary Heart Disease, by M.

Gupta MD, M. Evelegh PhD, J. Gillett RN, and J. Tse RN.

About the Study

Three hundred and one patients with established CAD took part in the

observational registry. Skin sterol was measured using PREVU(x) POC.

C-reactive protein was measured using CardioPhase hsCRP. The third

of patients with the highest skin sterol levels were more likely to

have hypertension, angina, and diabetes compared with the lowest

third. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher

in patients who scored highest for both skin sterol and C-reactive

protein, and remained significant after adjustment for age and

gender, compared to isolated elevators of either marker alone.

About PREVU(x) POC

PREVU(x) POC Skin Sterol Test, which does not require fasting or the

drawing of blood, tests the amount of skin sterol. Clinical studies

have shown that as cholesterol accumulates on artery walls it also

accumulates in other tissues, including the skin. High levels of

skin sterol are correlated with higher incidence of coronary artery

disease. PREVU(x) POC is currently being commercialized in Canada,

the U.S. and Europe, where it is available as a point of care test.

It is marketed and distributed worldwide by McNeil Consumer

Healthcare, Canada, and was developed by PreMD Inc.

About Cardiovascular Disease

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada,

cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which include coronary artery

disease (CAD), account for more deaths than any other disease. In

2002, CVD accounted for 74,626 Canadian deaths. Fifty-four percent

of all cardiovascular deaths are due to CAD. Additionally, CVD costs

the Canadian economy over $18 billion a year.

The Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2005 is co-hosted by the

Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) and The Heart and Stroke

Foundation of Canada and is the largest gathering of cardiovascular

health professionals in Canada.

SOURCE: PreMD Inc