New blood test to detect heart disease
Email
PrintABC world news just reported a new blood test that can find microscopic injury to heart muscle cells. This blood test is a protein known as cardiac troponin T (cTnT). The less sensitive cardiac marker Troponin, is what is used in the Emergency Department to see if a person is having a heart attack.
Apparently, this new research from the University of Texas Southwestern, found that people with detectable levels of the protein were almost seven times more likely to die within six years from heart disease.
Similar to troponin, C-reactive protein, or CRP, is a general marker for inflammation and infection, which can be used as a rough proxy for heart disease risk. But this is not a very specific prognosis since many things can cause an elevated CRP, including bacterial infections, burns and viral infections
This test is not currently being performed in the US, as it is not approved by the FDA. It is however permitted in Europe.
Watch these videos on ABCnews.com for more information. Prevention of heart disease or finding it very early will be the key to eliminating this disease in our society.
