OXIDIZED LDL FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD)
Oxidized LDL is pivotal in the initial insult that precedes plaque buildup and lesion formation, the major cause of heart disease. Clinical studies show that native LDL must be converted to oxidized LDL in order to become atherogenic. Thus, oxidized LDL is the culprit molecule, or pathophysiological substance, directly involved in the of coronary artery atherosclerosis. The level of oxidized LDL found in the bloodstream can differentiate individuals with coronary artery disease from individuals who are “healthy” and not at risk, and can do so with a very high degree of accuracy.
MALONDIALDEHYDE (MDA) –MODIFIED LDL FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE CAD
MDA-modified LDL measures plaque rupture causing a thrombotic chain of events ranging from small, undetected strokes that disrupt the flow of blood to small vessels resulting in tissue damage, to major atherosclerotic events such as unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and paralyzing stroke.
When used together, the oxidized LDL and MDA-modified LDL assays provide a clinically significant degree of diagnostic accuracy for detecting the presence of and distinguishing between the stages of coronary artery disease.
Dr. Paul Holvoet’s study in the October 1998 issue of Circulation: “Oxidized LDL And Malondialdehyde-Modified LDL In Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes And Stable Coronary Artery Disease”, demonstrates the medical efficacy of each assay as illustrated below:
Most important, it has been demonstrated that patents taking 20mg of Lipitor for 30 days have an average reduction in oxidized LDL of 45%. We believe that future MDA-modified LDL studies will demonstrate that treatment with statin drugs reduces unstable plaque, thereby not only protecting patients from AMI and stroke, but also protecting patients from complications to other parts of the body caused by the formation of thrombotic clots and corresponding temporary interruption of the normal flow of blood in small vessels