Why isn’t the Corus CAD test given to people who’ve had coronary bypass surgery?
This test uses “gene expression” to safely and quickly determine whose chest pain or shortness of breath is the result of obstructive coronary artery disease (clogged arteries).
Certain patients are candidates for this blood test, called the Corus CAD (coronary artery disease).
They are as follows:
- not diabetic
- have not been diagnosed with a previous heart attack
- have not had coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG)
- are not currently taking chemotherapeutic drugs, immune-suppressing drugs or steroid prescription drugs.
The Corus CAD test can help identify people who are unlikely to have obstructive heart artery disease as the cause of their symptoms.
Chest pain is a very common symptom of obstructive coronary artery disease, the so-called clogged arteries.
Other symptoms are typically that of shortness of breath upon exertion, and increasing fatigue over time.
Less common symptoms include nausea, burning sensation in the upper body, dizziness, lightheaded feeling, and pressure in the throat, jaw, shoulder, abdomen, back or arm.
Often, the only symptom is pain in the chest or what may be described as tightness or pressure.
Corus CAD Blood Test
The Corus CAD blood test results are available in just 72 hours and the test can be done in a doctor’s office.
I wondered why a CABG patient would not be a candidate for this test, since coronary bypass surgery doesn’t actually reduce plaque buildup in arteries,
The heart disease itself continues progressing despite the surgery. What CABG does is re-route the “plumbing” of the heart. This treats the symptom.
“Patients who have CABG have been diagnosed with severe and/or obstructive CAD, and thus were excluded from the clinical trials,” says David N. Smith, MD, a board certified cardiologist with Premier Cardiovascular Care and Wellness in SC.
“Therefore, the test has not been studied with or validated for patients who have had CABG.”
Dr. Smith is a published author, national lecturer and Yale-trained physician-scientist certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease. From his basic science background combined with advanced clinical research training at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, he brings an integrated holistic approach to cardiovascular medicine.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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