Description
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with more deaths than all cancers—and more deaths in women than breast cancer. The Comprehensive Cardiovascular Risk Profile from Doctor's Data reviews a thorough battery of biomarkers to aid in early detection and reduction of risk factors before the disease progresses.
Risk Factors and Analysis
What is Oxidized LDL and Small dense LDL particles and why it's important to test those?
Lipoprotein-Related Biomarkers
Total and LDL cholesterol, total triglycerides and HDL cholesterol have traditionally been measured to gauge CVD risk. However, recent research indicates that more focused biomarkers can provide even greater insight.
For example,
i) Oxidized LDL is plaque-specific and directly involved in accelerated atherogenesis and late-stage atherosclerotic plaque instability and rupture.
ii) Small dense LDL exhibits greater penetration into the arterial wall and has a longer half-life as well as lower resistance to oxidation compared to that of large buoyant LDL.
Circulating levels of these two markers are
1. Strong independent CVD risk factors
2. Higher in CVD patients
3. Correlated with the severity of CVD
4. Not correlated with LDL cholesterol levels
In addition, levels of apolipoproteins A-1 and B, specific protein constituents of HDL and LDL, are also strong indicators of risk.
Doctor's Data profiles evaluate each of these biomarkers as well as ratios of atherogenic to anti-atherogenic lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins for further insight.
Inflammation
Arterial damage is associated with the infiltration of white cells into vessel walls and inflammation, which increases blood levels of two acute phase proteins, C-reactive protein, and ferritin.
For example, patients with moderately elevated CRP are more likely to develop stroke, myocardial infarction, and severe peripheral arterial disease.
Although not specific to CVD, analysis of high sensitivity to these two proteins is valuable in a comprehensive assessment of CVD risk.
Oxidative Stress, Glomerular Filtration, and Blood Glucose
Why anti-oxidants like CoQ10 and Vitamin E, measured in comprehensive CVD profile?
Because oxidative stress is a component of CVD, the Comprehensive Cardiovascular Risk Profile measures plasma levels of three primary antioxidants—coenzyme Q10 and α- and γ- tocopherol.
The test also looks for elevated serum homocysteine, which has long been established as a risk factor.
Finally, because diabetes and chronic renal disease are also associated with markedly increased risk of CVD, long-term blood glucose homeostasis and glomerular filtration assessments round out the battery of risk factors analyzed.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.