BioImage Study published in American Heart Journal

BG Medicine, Inc., a U.S.-based biomarker discovery and in vitro diagnostics company, announced today the publication of The BioImage Study trial design and key objectives in the American Heart Journal. The American Heart Journal is a peer- reviewed journal that publishes original research and review articles on clinical research studies in the field of cardiology. The article which appeared in the July issue is titled "The BioImage Study: Novel approaches to risk assessment in the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease—study design and objectives," Pieter Muntendam, MD, Carol McCall, FSA, MAAA, Javier Sanz, MD, Erling Falk, MD, PhD, Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, on behalf of the High-Risk Plaque Initiative. Volume 160, Issue 1, Pages 49-57, e1, (July 2010), http://www.ahjonline.com/article/S0002-8703%2810%2900165-1/abstract

“The BioImage Study: Novel approaches to risk assessment in the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease—study design and objectives”

The BioImage Study was initiated by BG Medicine on behalf of the HRP Initiative in January 2008 to discover new imaging and blood biomarkers to more accurately identify those at risk for major cardiovascular events. The BioImage Study used a novel approach to identify and recruit study participants in order to best represent a typical US population. Humana Inc, a leading health benefit provider, and BG Medicine collaborated to allow selected Humana members in the Chicago, IL and South Florida markets to volunteer for The BioImage Study. A total of 7,687 Humana members were recruited this way (men 55 to 80 years of age and women 60 to 80 years). The participants visited a temporary research location where they completed a detailed survey and underwent a number of clinical and imaging tests.

The BioImage Study will help identify those patients in the general population with subclinical atherosclerosis who are at risk for near-term atherothrombotic events. Although several potential strategies exist to reduce the risk in these patients, these methods can only be developed and used clinically if individuals at high risk for near-term cardiovascular events can be reliably identified.