Atherotech presents latest evidence showing how comprehensive lipid testing can help improve cardiovascular disease outcomes

New research reveals the advantages of new, more accurate risk assessment methodologies over the basic lipid panel. Atherotech Diagnostics Lab, a leading clinical reference laboratory specializing in advanced cardiometabolic testing and disease management solutions, will highlight recent evidence for improved cardiovascular disease assessment and prevention at the eighth annual Cardiometabolic Health Congress (CMHC) October 2-5, at the Sheraton Hotel in Boston.   

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains challenging to diagnose, treat, and prevent, and large numbers of patients still do not achieve optimal control of LDLc, HDLc and triglycerides. The CMHC is one of the largest and most influential congresses dedicated to informing clinicians about the latest strategies to manage cardiometabolic disease and reduce risk.

Conference Faculty includes Atherotech Medical Advisory Board members and distinguished researchers Eliot A. Brinton, M.D.; Peter McCullough, M.D., M.P.H.; and Peter P. Tóth, M.D., Ph.D. The trio will present from 5:15-6:45 p.m. on October 2 during an Atherotech-sponsored symposium titled, “Advancements in Cardiometabolic Risk Assessment: Expert Analysis of Recent Evidence and Outcomes.”

“Rapidly changing demographics among U.S. patients are exacerbating critical deficiencies in traditional cardiometabolic risk assessment,” said Brinton, who currently serves as President of the American Board of Clinical Lipidology, and is also director of Atherometabolic Research at the Utah Foundation for Biomedical Research and President of the Utah Lipid Center, both in Salt Lake City. “We have known for some time that non-HDLc, apoB and LDL-P levels often add significantly to CVD risk prediction available from the traditional Friedewald-estimated LDLc. The new VAP+ is the first commercial test to measure LDL particle count directly. By including LDL-P, apoB, non-HDL-C, apoA1, and Lp(a), as well as lipoprotein subfractions, including remnant lipoproteins, the VAP+ has become the most comprehensive single lipid panel available to practicing clinicians.”

Brinton, McCullough and Tóth will review recent evidence and outcomes during Atherotech’s sponsored symposium, comparing current methodologies and their limitations to the company’s patented VAP^®+ Lipid Panel, reviewing the published scientific evidence and examining the practical application of VAP+ technology with representative case studies.

As the only diagnostic assessment that captures all of the lipid information recommended in national guidelines, VAP+ measures and collates its extensive lipid-related diagnostic information into three key risk categories: Cholesterol rich, Triglyceride rich, and Hereditary factors. VAP+ measures cholesterol concentrations of all five lipoprotein classes and their subclasses, and includes the proprietary Vertical Lipoprotein Particle (VLP) technology, which allows for direct and accurate measurement of LDL particle count (LDL-P).

Data from the Atherotech VAP (Vertical Auto Profile) have been presented in numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications, including the recent Journal of the American College of Cardiology article, which highlighted that the standard estimated LDLc mis-classifies up to 60 percent of patients at highest CVD risk. This study used the Very Large Database of Lipids (VLDL), a dataset from VAP tests on more than 1.3 million blood lipid samples. Ongoing research with this VLDL dataset promises to contribute additional important insights into clinically practical methods for improving CVD risk assessment and prevention.

To attend the symposium sponsored by Atherotech Diagnostics Lab, participants must be registered attendees of the 2013 CMHC. For more information about the Cardiometabolic Health Congress and to register for the CMHC, please visit www.cardiometabolichealth.org.

For information on Atherotech Diagnostics Lab, visit www.Atherotech.com or call 877-901-8510. Health care professionals interested in real patient cases and lipidology commentary may visit www.CobblesCorner.com, Atherotech’s official blog. Atherotech is on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Atherotech, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Atherotech, and broadcasting at www.YouTube.com/user/VAPatherotech.