THURSDAY, June 23, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new diagnostic test that its maker says can identify people at imminent risk of a heart attack and other cardiac problems.
The CardioMPO test, made by the Cleveland Clinic spinoff PrognostiX Inc., measures blood levels of the enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). Researchers have found that among patients who complain of chest pain or discomfort, elevated MPO levels can signal the imminent risk of heart attack or the need for cardiac surgery within months, the company said in a statement.
PrognostiX said the test should help physicians quickly decide a course of action for people who complain of chest pain. The test should be available in August, the company said.
To learn more about the warning signs of heart attack, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
