Test Includes: Lipoprotein particle number; lipoprotein subfractions; metabolic syndrome markers; standard lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides)
Description
The NMR LipoProfile® is a blood test that helps to iden-tify patients at risk for lipid-related CHD by measuring both the number of LDL particles (LDL-P) and standard lipids. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the NMR LipoProfile test directly measures individual lipoprotein particle subfractions (VLDL, LDL [including one IDL], and HDL) in addition to calculating the cholesterol contained in lipoproteins. What makes it possible to count the number of particles in various subclasses (without separating the subclasses first) is a magnetic property specific to lipoproteins that causes the lipids to broadcast characteristic signals for each of the 15 lipoprotein subclasses. The process begins with the measurement of a patient's serum or plasma NMR spectra. Each lipoprotein subclass signal em anates from the total number of terminal methyl groups on the lipids contained in the particle. The amplitude of each lipoprotein particle signal serves as a measure of the concen-tration of that lipoprotein.
Outcomes Data The NMR LipoProfile test is a diagnostic tool used to identify and manage risk for lipid-related heart disease. In numerous clinical trials, the NMR LipoProfile test has proved to be a superior predictor of CHD outcomes than standard lipids. In all of these studies, prediction by the number of LDL particles (LDL-P) was independent of traditional lipids.In one of the most recent publications, results from VA-HIT were published. This study showed "NMR measured LDL and HDL particles numbers were significant, independent predictors of incident CHD events, whereas LDL and HDL cholesterol (or ApoB and Apo A-1) were not." To date, more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and studies have been published. A complete listing of publications regarding lipoprotein particle measurement via NMR can be found at www.lipoprofile.com.