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Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary Artery Disease - DiaPat®-CAD test

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major causes of death worldwide causing almost every second death. Most preventive health check-ups however, are not sensitive for early alterations or are associated with invasive or radiant procedures. The DiaPat®-CAD test analyses the urine proteome and allows an accurate and non-invasive detection of coronary artery disease, even before symptoms occur.

Primarily patients, who display no clear symptoms, but also all patients carrying increased risks, such as for example diabetes patients, smokers and overweight individuals can benefit from it. Early diagnosis facilitates early treatment or a change of habits (diet, physical activity, giving up smoking).


Advantages of the DiaPat®-CAD test

  • Painless (non-invasive urine sample)
  • Riskless (no negative side effects)
  • Reliable (highly reliable detection of CAD with >85% accuracy)

 

Risk factors:

  • stress
  • physical inactivity
  • high blood pressure (arterial hypertension)
  • overweight 
  • diabetes (approx. 80% of diabetes patients die of vascular complications)
  • consumption of alcohol and nicotine
  • dyslipidemia
  • oxidative stress
  • age
  • gender
  • family history

Comparison of current methods

Method Invasive Ionising radiation Contrast Agent Side effects/risks
DiaPat - CAD Test No No No

None
Echocardiography No No No In particular coronary blood vessels are difficult to assess
Magnetic resonance imagine No No No

Image of fast moving organs (e.g. heart) is problematic;
Intolrerance of contrast agent;
Claustrophobia and anxiety (small tube diameter)
PET scanning No

Yes

 Yes Often in combination with CT to improve spatial resolution
Cardiac computer tomograph No Yes Yes very high exposure dose (up to 1000 times higher than normal X-ray dose)
Coronary angiography Yes Yes Yes

Intolerance of contrast agent;
Injury of vessels and / or nerves;
Ventricular fibrillation;
Heart attack


References:

Zimmerli LU, Schiffer E, Zürbig P et al.
Urinary proteomics biomarkers in coronary artery disease.
Mol Cell Proteomics 2008; 7: 290-298

Snell-Bergeon JK, Maahs DM, Ogden LG et al.
Evaluation of urinary biomarkers for coronary artery disease, diabetes, and diabetic kidney disease.
Diabetes Technol Ther 2009; 11: 1-9

von Zur Muhlen C., Schiffer E, Zuerbig P et al.
Evaluation of Urine Proteome Pattern Analysis for Its Potential To Reflect Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis in Symptomatic Patients.
J Proteome Res 2009; 8: 335-345


Background information

Generally the term cardiovascular disease is used to describe diseases of the cardiovascular system. More specifically, it describes diseases associated with arteriosclerosis deposits of lipids, blood clots, connective tissue and calcium in blood vessels.

Prevalence

Cardiovascular diseases in form of coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Europe, CAD causes around 1.9 million deaths per year (European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics, 2005). This represents almost 50% of all deaths recorded in the EU. The coronary (or ischaemic) heart disease is one of the most frequent diseases. Worldwide, similar figures are recorded in developed countries. Therefore coronary heart disease represents a significant social and economic burden worldwide. Patients often progress to severe, life threatening CAD without manifest clinical symptoms. Early diagnosis of CAD in its pre-symptomatic stages would allow effective targeted primary prevention.