Healthcare Industry News: low-density lipoprotein
News Release - November 8, 2006
diaDexus Reports Study Showing Lp-PLA2 Is an Independent Marker of Coronary Artery Disease and Death
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--diaDexus, Inc., today announced results of a study demonstrating that Lp-PLA2 (lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2) independently predicts both the severity of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) at the time of coronary angiography and future cardiovascular problems, including death. The results were published in the November 2006 issue of the American Heart Journal.Lp-PLA2, a cardiovascular-specific inflammatory biomarker, was measured using the PLAC® test, developed by diaDexus. The predictive ability of Lp-PLA2 was independent of traditional risk factors, C-reactive protein (CRP, a systemic inflammatory biomarker), and statin and antihypertensive medication use.
"These data further cement the relationship between lipids and inflammation," said John F. Carlquist, Ph.D., of the Cardiovascular Department, LDS Hospital, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and a study investigator. "Aside from advancing our understanding of the pathologic processes in coronary disease, Lp-PLA2 adds a quantitative measure to cardiovascular risk assessment."
The study used blood samples collected from 1,493 patients enrolled in the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study. Levels of both Lp-PLA2 and CRP were measured in all patients. Patients also underwent coronary angiography for diagnosis of possible coronary artery disease. Patients' Lp-PLA2 and CRP levels were compared with their angiograms to determine if the levels were predictive of existing heart disease. Patients then were followed for about seven years to see if the measured Lp-PLA2 and CRP levels were predictive of future cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, and death.
"In this large, prospectively enrolled group of patients being assessed and treated for coronary artery disease, Lp-PLA2 was confirmed to be an independent risk factor, improving risk stratification for patients receiving coronary angiography," said Robert Wolfert, Ph.D., executive vice president of diagnostics at diaDexus, and a study investigator. "One of the strengths of this biomarker is its specificity to cardiovascular inflammation. We believe that the value of Lp-PLA2 lies in its ability to help identify patients who should be targeted with the most aggressive treatment."
Wolfert said that Lp-PLA2 associates in the blood with low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the "bad" cholesterol). Lp-PLA2 is carried to the walls of coronary arteries with LDL, where it can activate an inflammatory response, promoting atherosclerosis. As a result, Lp-PLA2 serves as a specific indicator of vascular inflammation and, therefore, a more specific predictor of coronary artery disease than CRP.
About diaDexus
diaDexus, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, is focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel, patent-protected diagnostic products with high clinical value. The PLAC test is a simple blood test cleared for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to aid in the prediction of an individual's risk for coronary heart disease or ischemic stroke, in conjunction with clinical evaluation and patient risk assessment. For more information, visit www.plactest.com or www.diaDexus.com.
Source: diaDexus
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