U.S. approves new blood test to screen stroke

Reuters ^ | 6/17/05

[anniegetyourgun]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A blood test already used to help screen for heart problems won U.S. approval to help predict a patient's risk for stroke, officials for the firm that makes it said on Friday. The PLAC test, made by privately held diaDexus, scans the blood for high levels of the protein lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-Pla2), which studies found were more common in stroke patients.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc holds a partial stake in the biotech firm, which it co-founded in 1997 as SmithKline Beecham along with Incyte Genomics, which is now known as Incyte Corp.

"The PLAC test provides new information, over and above traditional risk factors, that can guide physicians and patients to make the necessary changes that may prevent patients from suffering cardiovascular disease and events, like stroke and heart attack," diaDexus Chief Executive Officer Patrick Plewman said.

A study followed 12,773 people for about 6 years, during which some suffered strokes. Researchers found levels of the protein were higher in the resulting stroke cases than in people who did not have one.

The National Institutes of Health and GlaxoSmithKline funded the study.

DiaDexus' test is important for Glaxo, which is studying three compounds that could curb the protein and reduce the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular disorders.

The test, first approved for heart disease in 2003, will be available through national laboratories, including Quest Diagnostics Inc..

[anniegetyourgun]

For those of you who have stroke potential from family history, this is important. Cholesterol testing is fine for heart disease/attack information, but this is much more specific to stroke.