Skin Cholesterol Levels A New Marker of Metabolic Syndrome

A study reveals that patients with high levels of skin sterol (STC) in combination with high levels of C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are at almost twice the risk of having metabolic syndrome.

"One of the biggest challenges we as cardiologists face is not so much determining if our patients are at risk for coronary artery disease, but how at risk they are," says Dr. Milan Gupta, principal investigator of the study and Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario, and Cardiologist, Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health Centre, in Brampton, Ontario.

"This study shows us that if an at-risk patient tests high on skin sterol and C-reactive protein, they are likely at greater risk of metabolic syndrome and therefore, at a higher risk for coronary artery disease. After further study, we may learn that these patients warrant more aggressive treatment."

Skin sterol (or skin tissue cholesterol) is non-invasively measured with PREVU(x) Point of Care (POC) Skin Sterol Test. When used in combination with tools that measure C-reactive protein (a protein found in the blood) it can reveal an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

Previous studies have demonstrated that skin sterol testing can detect hardening or narrowing of the arteries. Research also has shown that it can help identify increased risk of coronary artery disease in patients who have no signs or symptoms of heart disease.

"PREVU(x) POC is a fast, simple test that adds value to the arsenal of assessment tools used by physicians to determine a patient’s cardiovascular risk level," adds Gupta. "It can give physicians a clearer picture about whether the patient is at low, moderate or elevated risk." PREVU(x) POC is currently being commercialized in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, where it is available as a point of care test. It is marketed and distributed worldwide by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Canada, and was developed by PreMD Inc.

The abstract presented at the conference in Montreal, Quebec was, Skin Tissue Cholesterol and C-Reactive Protein are Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects with Coronary Heart Disease, by M. Gupta MD, M. Evelegh PhD, J. Gillett RN, and J. Tse RN.