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Monday April 8, 8:26 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: IMI International Medical Innovations Inc.
Cholesterol in skin reveals heart disease risk
Non-invasive test predicts extent of plaque build-up in arteries and history of heart attack
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, April 8 /CNW/ - Cholesterol in the skin on the palm of the hand can identify people at risk of heart disease, according to a new study presented this week at a scientific meeting sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA). The study evaluated the predictive capabilities of Cholesterol 1,2,3(TM), a test for skin cholesterol and the only non-invasive cholesterol test system in the world. Cleared for sale in Canada and currently before the FDA in the U.S., Cholesterol 1,2,3 was developed by predictive medicine company IMI International Medical Innovations Inc. (TSE:IMI - news).
"Skin cholesterol provides a snapshot of the body's overall accumulation of cholesterol and can be used to predict the extent of plaque build-up inside the coronary arteries," said Dr. Dennis Sprecher, Head of Preventive Cardiology at The Cleveland Clinic and principal investigator of the study. Dr. Sprecher presented the data this weekend at the AHA-sponsored Annual Conference on Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology in Salt Lake City, Utah. "Due to the fact that the skin cholesterol test is non-invasive and immediate, we can use it to help determine who may need more complicated diagnostic procedures and who does not need to undergo such procedures."
Cholesterol 1,2,3, the world's first non-invasive cholesterol test system, takes three minutes and measures cholesterol in the skin by generating a color-change reaction in a drop of liquid on the palm of the hand. It has been shown in earlier clinical trials to provide new information about heart disease risk that is independent of traditional risk factors such as blood cholesterol.
The study included 649 subjects at three sites in the U.S. and Canada. All patients had their skin cholesterol tested using Cholesterol 1,2,3 as well as their blood cholesterol, and all underwent coronary angiography. Patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease, as determined by angiography, had significantly higher skin cholesterol values than patients with no disease or clinically insignificant disease. Skin cholesterol was informative on its own and added incremental information to standard blood cholesterol tests.
"In this era of cost-containment, new user-friendly techniques for identifying people at risk would help us target prevention strategies to the people who need them most," said Dr. Sprecher. "To this end, the association between cholesterol in skin and the accumulation of cholesterol on the artery walls offers important opportunities to identify people who are at greater risk of developing coronary artery disease - the number-one cause of heart attack."
A significant observation in the study was the correlation between skin cholesterol values and a person's history of acute coronary events such as myocardial infarction (heart attack). People with higher skin cholesterol levels were significantly more likely to have had a previous MI or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) than patients with lower skin cholesterol levels.
"The relationship between skin cholesterol and heart attack is exciting, and suggests that Cholesterol 1,2,3 may have potential for predicting acute coronary events. We are currently exploring that relationship further in prospective studies such as the MESA study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in the U.S.," said Dr. Brent Norton, IMI President and CEO.
New abstract accepted for presentation
A second scientific abstract based on the multi-site study led by Dr. Sprecher was accepted for oral presentation at the Sixth International Symposium on Global Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke, June 12-15, 2002, in Florence, Italy.
About IMI
IMI is a world leader in predictive medicine. IMI is dedicated to developing rapid, non-invasive tests for the early detection and monitoring of life-threatening diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease and cancer. IMI's lead product, Cholesterol 1,2,3(TM), is the first non-invasive test system for cholesterol. IMI's cancer products in development include ColorectAlert(TM), a screening test for colorectal cancer, and LungAlert(TM), a screening test for lung cancer. For further information, please visit the company's web site at www.imimedical.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the
company's current expectation regarding future events. The forward-looking
statements involve risk and uncertainties. Actual events could differ
materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors
including, but not limited to, changing market conditions, successful and
timely completion of clinical studies, uncertainties related to the regulatory
approval process, establishment of corporate alliances and other risks
detailed from time to time in the company's quarterly filings.
For further information
Andrew Weir, Director, Communications, (416) 222-3449 x27, aweir@imimedical.com
Richard Land, Karin Oloffson, Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated (212) 835-8500 or imi@jcir.com |
