deCODE MI™
The medical term for heart attack is myocardial infarction. A heart attack is also sometimes called a coronary artery thrombosis or coronary artery occlusion.
Common diseases such as MI occur at the interface of genes and the environment, as both inherited as well as lifestyle and other health risk factors play important roles in the disease process. As a result, it is important to understand what carrying an inherited risk variant for a common disease means, and how that information can help to keep a predisposition to a given condition from ever developing into a disease.The deCODE MI™ test detects versions of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism) – single letter variations in the sequence of the genome – in a region of the genome that deCODE has linked to increased risk of MI.
The conventional risk factors for MI and other atherosclerotic diseases include high serum total cholesterol levels, elevated serum LDL cholesterol, and low serum HDL cholesterol, cigarette smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Despite increased knowledge of the specific risk factors and the wide-spread use of medications that inhibit thrombosis (aspirin) or treat medical risk factors, such as elevated cholesterol levels in blood (statins), diabetes or hypertension, the prevalence of atherosclerotic disease continues to be high. This is largely attributed to the aging of the population and the increase in the prevalence of modifiable risk factors in large segments of the population.
deCODE MI™ is a reference laboratory DNA test for assessing an inherited risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI). The test detects versions of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism) – single letter variations in the sequence of the genome – in a region of the genome that deCODE has linked to increased risk of MI.
deCODE MI™ is performed in deCODE’s CLIA-registered laboratory. The test can only be ordered by qualified physicians and medical practitioners. If you are an individual interested in deCODE MI™, you can continue reviewing this site, even download and print the test order forms and meet with your doctor to discuss the next steps.