A non-invasive skin test may provide a way to assess a person's risk of developing heart disease, according to a recent American study. The three-minute test measures cholesterol on the outer layer of skin.
Dr Dennis Sprecher (Cleveland Clinic Foundation, United States), lead researcher, told The Journal on November 24 that the test involved placing two solutions on the hand sequentially. The first solution contained digitonin and horseradish peroxidase and, once in contact with the skin, the digitonin bound with cholesterol. A second solution was then placed on the skin that reacted with horseradish peroxidase, resulting in a colour change. The colour was read by a handheld spectophotometer.
In the study, the Cholesterol 1,2,3 system (IMI) was used in 241 people who subsequently underwent diagnostic coronary catheterisation - a test that measures blockages in the blood vessels. The researchers found that those with the highest levels of skin cholesterol also had the greatest number of diseased arteries. The researchers concluded: "Patients who exhibit higher skin cholesterol scores are more likely to present with established coronary artery disease. "