What is deCODE AF™?
deCODE AF™ offers a novel means of meeting the challenge of identifying those who may benefit from outpatient cardiac monitoring after leaving the hospital, and thereby detecting a greater proportion of AF cases
deCODE AF™ is a DNA-based reference laboratory test aimed at detecting Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and subsequently choose the appropriate follow up treatment.
deCODE AF™ detects versions of two common single-letter variations in
the genome (also known as SNPs) on chromosome 4q25 that deCODE has identified
as major risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF). deCODE discovered these genetic markers and has published them in a peer-reviewed journal (Nature
2007: Variants conferring risk of atrial fibrillation on chromosome 4q25).
The article can be found under "Letters" in Nature's "Advance online publication" (see link above)).
AF is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, and is the leading cause of cardiogenic stroke. Between 15 and 20 percent of all strokes are cardiogenic, the subtype with the highest morbidity and mortality.
By providing a better understanding of an individual’s risk, deCODE AF™ may enable doctors to identify those patients who may benefit from outpatient cardiac monitoring for undiagnosed AF. Published research and best clinical practice suggest that individuals with AF, and with a history of stroke or with other risk factors, can significantly reduce their risk of stroke through treatment with the anticoagulant drug, warfarin.
Some stroke patients have intermittent AF and may no longer be in AF when they arrive at an emergency room. Many of these may not be diagnosed during the standard 24 to 48 hours of inpatient cardiac monitoring. As a result, these patients may be placed on an antiplatelet agent rather than much more effective warfarin treatment for secondary prevention of AF-related stroke. More extensive outpatient cardiac monitoring is not routinely done due to the expense involved. deCODE AF™ offers a novel means of meeting this challenge – of identifying those who may benefit from outpatient cardiac monitoring after leaving the hospital, and thereby detecting a greater proportion of AF cases .
deCODE AF™ can only be ordered with the written informed consent of the
individual to be tested accompanied by the authorization of a physician.
Because deCODE believes this test is useful for informing monitoring and
treatment strategies for those who have suffered either ischemic stroke
or transient ischemic attack, we recommend that physicians read through
this site and the information it contains and then review it fully with
their patients, in order to explain what atrial fibrillation is and why
the information yielded by the risk test may, together with analysis of other risk factors, be useful for providing the
best possible prevention strategy for future stroke.