In Vitro Diagnostic Tests for Predicting New Cardiovascular Events

Technology Description

This invention demonstrates that by measuring the OxPL/apo-B levels and Lp-PLA2 mass (or activity) one obtains complementary and synergistic information with a significant increase in the "hazard ratio" for predicting new cardiovascular events. In addition, if you measure the lipoprotein (a) and the Lp-PLA2 mass, and analyze the data together you get similar information. Therefore, by doing these combined measurements simultaneously, you can determine a higher risk if new cardiovascular events. When a patient presents to a physician, the physician would order both an OxPL/apo-B level (and or Lp(a) ) and an Lp-PLA2 mass.

Applications

Using an algorithm, the markedly improved risk prediction can be determined. Also, the invention describes a novel high-throughput assay to measure Lp-PLA2 on isolated Lp(a) particles or isolated apoB particles. Currently, the technique to detect Lp-PLA2 is done in plasma. This invention proposes to have a plate assay to capture Lp-PLA2 using specific antibodies to measure the particles. It is the use of the assay to detect Lp-PLA2 that is unique; the assay has been developed but has not yet been clinically evaluated.

Patent Status