Simple, non-invasive skin sterol test reveals coronary artery disease in patients with no symptoms

Toronto, Ontario (March 9, 2005) --- A study recently presented at the 54th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology, in Orlando, Fla. revealed that skin sterol testing can detect hardening or narrowing of the arteries, which can lead to heart disease.

“This study demonstrates that skin sterol testing can identify increased risk in patients who have no signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. James H. Stein, Principal Investigator of the study and Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Wisconsin Medical School. 

Dr. Stein’s study evaluated 81 patients who had no history of cardiovascular disease.  Patients’ skin tissue cholesterol levels were measured using PREVU* Point of Care Skin Sterol Test.  The patients then underwent B-mode ultrasonography to analyze carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), which helps to measure hardening and narrowing of the arteries.  CIMT is considered an independent marker of a patient’s risk for myocardial infarction and stroke.

Among the patients with high skin sterol, CIMT was also significantly higher even after adjusting for age, sex, blood sugar, and systolic blood pressure, among other related factors.  Skin sterol measures skin tissue cholesterol with a five-minute, non-invasive test that does not require the drawing of blood or a special pre-test diet.

“More than half of the men and women who die from heart disease, die suddenly without any prior symptoms,” says Dr. Stein.  “There is considerable interest in non-invasive, simple and rapidly administered tests to better assess which patients are at risk.  With this strong association with increased CIMT, skin sterol testing may help to identify asymptomatic patients who could benefit from more intensive interventions.” 

About the Study

The study, conducted at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, included 81 patients without known vascular disease who were referred for determination of CIMT.   Patients underwent B-mode ultrasonography of the carotid arteries and measurement of skin sterol using PREVU* POC.  CIMT was significantly higher among patients in the highest quartile of skin sterol (p = 0.017).  Skin sterol was associated with increased CIMT even after adjusting for age, sex, glucose, systolic blood pressure, total: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and use of lipid-lowering therapy (p = 0.031).

The findings of the study, titled Skin Cholesterol Content Identifies Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Adults, by Wendy S. Tzou. Maureen E. Mays, Claudia E. Korcarz , Susan E. Aeschlimann, and James H. Stein, will be published in the American Heart Journal later in 2005.

About PREVU*

PREVU* Point of Care Skin Sterol Test, which does not require fasting or the drawing of blood, tests the amount of sterol, or skin sterol cholesterol.  Clinical studies have shown that as cholesterol accumulates on artery walls it also accumulates in other tissues, including the skin. High levels of skin sterol are correlated with higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). PREVU* POC is currently being commercialized in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, where it will be available as a point of care test. PREVU* POC is marketed and distributed worldwide by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Canada. 

About Cardiovascular Disease

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which include coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, inflammatory heart disease and other diseases, currently account for about 17 million deaths per year worldwide. By 2025, CVDs are expected to cause 25 million deaths annually.  More people worldwide – approximately 7 million – die from coronary artery disease than any other cause. 1

According to the British Heart Foundation, there are an estimated 268,000 heart attacks a year in the UK, which equates to one every two minutes.  There are an estimated 826,000 people under age 75 who have had a heart attack; that is 26,000 more people than in 2003.2 

About McNeil

McNeil Consumer Healthcare manufactures and sells innovative brand name health care and consumer products in Canada and around the world.  McNeil’s Canadian head office is located in Guelph, Ontario.

For North American sales inquiries related to PREVU* POC Skin Sterol Test, please call McNeil’s customer service hotline at 1-866-283-8328.  For European sales inquiries, please call 00-800-8283-8328.  All e-mail inquiries may be forwarded to yourvoice@mccca.jnj.com.

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For more information, please contact:

In the U.S. and United Kingdom:

Tracy Krughoff

Environics Communications

202-296-2002

tkrughoff@environics-usa.com

In Canada:                                                                

Orlena Lee                                                                 

Environics Communications                                            

 416-969-2745                                                                       

olee@environicspr.com                                             

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Canada:

Lan Lai-Minh

Director of Communications

519-826-6226 (ext. 5215)

llaiminh@mccca.jnj.com