Blood Tests for Heart Conditions Know and Smoker Lungs

Smokers are known to be more susceptible to various chronic diseases like heart.Now researchers are developing a blood test that can determine the condition of the heart and lungs of smokers.

Researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a simple blood test that can later be used to measure the toxicity of the lung and a smoker's risk of heart disease.

"Levels of protein in the lungs of smokers found in the blood can indicate risk of plaque buildup in blood vessels is dangerous," said Dr. Anand Rohatgi, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern, as quoted by ScienceDaily, Thursday (10/27/2011).

In this study researchers measured the amount of pulmonary surfactant B (SP-B) is a protein found in cells of damaged lungs. Researchers found smokers with high levels of SP-B appeared to have a more dangerous buildup of plaque in the aorta (largest artery with a branch that leads to the pelvis, abdomen and legs).

The research was done because most smokers will be lost productivity and treatment costs big, so expect this blood test could be a way for early detection.

"Smoking is one of the largest contributors to the development of heart disease, and this test can measure the effects of smoking that contribute to atherosclerotic heart disease," said Dr. Rohatgi.

Increased risk of heart attack, stroke and death from cardiovascular disease in smokers varies between individuals and up to now there is no blood test that can measure these varisi.

Now researchers are doing further evaluation to investigate whether SP-B causes atherosclerosis or simply as a marker of the disease course, and to find out whether the decreased levels of SP-B can improve the healing of heart disease.

The results of this study have been published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology by the American Heart Association.