Boston Heart Enables Healthcare Providers to Better Identify Near-Term Risk of Heart Attack or Stroke with Launch of an Important Inflammation Marker, Myeloperoxidase (MPO)

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Heart Diagnostics Corporation, a pioneer in integrating next-generation diagnostics into personalized nutrition and lifestyle programs for patients with or at risk for heart disease, announced the commercial launch of an FDA-cleared MPO (myeloperoxidase) test, a key biomarker for inflammation. Studies show that MPO levels are useful predictors of near-term (one to six months) risk of heart attack or stroke.

Boston Heart is a leader in the science of chronic disease risk assessment and patient management. The launch of MPO is an important addition to the suite of next-generation diagnostics the company already offers. More than lab results, Boston Heart gives healthcare providers the tools they need to identify risk, individualize treatment plans, and engage patients in preventing and reversing cardiovascular disease.

According to Boston Heart President and CEO, Susan Hertzberg, "Heart disease is complex and requires more than a cholesterol result to identify people at risk or to individualize treatment. The addition of MPO to our test menu and the integration of MPO results into our individualized patient-friendly reports is yet another example of our commitment to provide the best science and full complement of next-generation diagnostics that address all the known factors that contribute to each person's individual risk for heart disease."

Boston Heart offers the MPO test as an individual assay, or as part of a panel of other critical inflammation markers including hs-CRP and LpPLA₂. Unlike other MPO assays on the market, the Boston Heart MPO test does not require a separate sample tube, nor do office staff need to spend time aliquoting. Patients may benefit from having fewer tubes of blood drawn, and the risk of specimen rejection and redraw may be reduced, since aliquoting can be a cause of insufficient sample.

"Recent studies point to inflammation as a critical element, increasing a patient's risk of blockage of the blood vessels. If inflammation is not addressed, it could lead to a rupture of the blockage, causing a heart attack or stroke," said Boston Heart's Chief Medical Officer, Ernst J. Schaefer, M.D. "A high level of MPO in blood vessels increases risk in several ways. It modifies the primary protein in HDL – the 'good' cholesterol – so that it loses its protective properties. It also bruises and roughs up the wall of the blood vessel, making it more prone to rupture, and increasing the likelihood that any plaque will become unstable or break off to form dangerous clots.

"Fortunately, once a patient's MPO, cholesterol metabolism and other critical values are known, there are effective treatments that healthcare providers can prescribe to help avert an emergency-room visit with a catastrophic event," Dr. Schaefer added. "In the case of high MPO levels, therapies may include statins, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors."

About Boston Heart Diagnostics (BostonHeartDiagnostics.com)
Boston Heart is re-inventing the role of diagnostics in cardiovascular disease (CVD), the number one cause of death in the United States. There's much more to CVD than "good" and "bad" cholesterol – that's why traditional cholesterol screens often miss those at significant risk for heart attack or stroke. In fact, individuals can still have up to a 75% residual risk for serious cardiac events after successfully lowering LDL. We work with healthcare providers to engage individuals in their own well-being and give them the tools they need to prevent or reduce their CVD risk and improve health outcomes. Applying the latest clinical research and advances in laboratory science, we integrate results from our exclusive tests and health history information with an individual's food and exercise preferences – all transformed into practical nutrition, lifestyle, and support strategies tailor-made for each person. We help people make meaningful and lasting change through the use of easy-to-understand reports, one-on-one coaching, and sustained support. Boston Heart is leading the charge to turn the promise of personalized medicine into a reality.

Media contact: Caroline Grossman - 781.771.5579 - [email protected]

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SOURCE Boston Heart Diagnostics Corporation