Blood Test Uses Plasma Ceramides as Biomarkers to Assess Risk of Heart Attack

Researchers have found that measuring blood concentrations of plasma ceramides much improves prediction of cardiovascular (CV) death in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndromes beyond LDL-cholesterol.

Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA) has launched the test to predict adverse cardiovascular events in patients with progressing CAD. The test (Test ID: CERAM) for plasma ceramides, a class of lipids highly linked to cardiovascular disease processes, is to be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation and patient risk assessment as an aid in predicting risk of imminent adverse cardiovascular events. Risks conferred by ceramides are independent of traditional biomarkers including age, sex, smoking status, and history of CAD. In the new study, plasma ceramides were found to predict the likelihood of an adverse cardiovascular event within 1 year in CAD patients. Based on two previous studies (Yu J et al 2015 Canadian Journal of Cardiology, and Vaara S et al 2011 International Journal of Epidemiology), in patients with suspected CAD and/or chronic heart failure the test can predict the likelihood of an event within 3-5 years.


The test is available to Mayo Clinic patients and through Mayo Medical Laboratories (MML), the reference laboratory of Mayo Clinic, offering advanced laboratory testing and pathology services to healthcare organizations in over 60 countries. MML collaborated on the test with Zora Biosciences Oy (Espoo, Finland), a diagnostics discovery company that specializes in cardiovascular disease.

“Through our strong collaboration with Zora Biosciences, we hope our new test will improve the evaluation of individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Jeff Meeusen, PhD, clinical chemist, Mayo Clinic, “This test is for patients with highly specialized cases, for example, patients with progressing coronary artery disease despite treatment and control of their risk factors, or for younger individuals with premature CAD.” The test also might be used to determine if treatment is necessary in individuals at intermediate risk via the “risk calculator” from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

“Plasma ceramides are promising biomarkers for the prediction of adverse CV events in either primary and/or secondary prevention. The studies to date suggest that the signals observed presage events within the next 5-year period,” said Allan Jaffe, MD, cardiologist, Mayo Clinic, “Risk conferred by plasma ceramides appears to be independent of other established and novel biomarkers, and there are preliminary indications that high ceramide concentrations can be modified by common lipid-lowering therapies.”

The study, by Laaksonen R et al, was published in April 2016 in the European Heart Journal.

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