Blood Proteins May Predict Heart Attacks

Researchers at the University of Rochester say measuring three proteins in the blood is a more accurate predictor of heart attack risk than monitoring cholesterol levels.

“This represents a major step forward,” said lead investigator Dr. Arthur J. Moss. He cautioned, however, that more studies need to be done before the protein test is recommended.

Blood proteins called apo A, apo B and D-dimer were measured in the study of 1,045 patients at 13 hospitals.

People with high levels of apo B were found to be almost twice as likely to suffer a second heart attack. People with abnormal levels of all three proteins were eight times more likely.

The study found that even people with a normal cholesterol count were at risk of a second heart attack if they had a high level of apo B. Apo B deposits cholesterol and other fats against the walls of blood vessels. Apo A cleans cholesterol from vessels.

Details of the study were published in the May 17 issue of Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Assn.