Abbott has announced CE-marking for the ARCHITECT Galectin-3 assay, a test that aids in the assessment of prognosis for patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure. The test was developed in partnership with BG Medicine to run on Abbott’s immunochemistry platform.
Heart failure, or the inability of the heart to circulate blood effectively, is associated with poor patient outcomes, a lower quality of life, and recurrent and costly dependence on healthcare services. While the progress of heart failure is different for each patient, several studies demonstrate that heart failure patients with higher levels of galectin-3 are more likely to have worse outcomes, including rehospitalisation and death.
“Galectin-3 reflects the pathophysiology of heart failure, and is one of the most powerful prognostic indicators. It helps clinicians to identify which patients are at high risk for worsening heart failure early in the course of their disease,” said Dr Rudolf de Boer, associate professor in cardiology at the University Medical Centre Groningen in The Netherlands. “Knowing which patients are at increased risk of hospital readmission – independent of other variables – could provide physicians with important information to help them reach different decisions about treatment, which may benefit patient care.”
Brian Blaser, Executive Vice President, Diagnostics Products, Abbott, said: “Despite numerous medical advances, the number of deaths among hospitalised heart failure patients remains high, exceeding that of most cancers. “The new ARCHITECT Galectin-3 test is a helpful tool to aid physicians in their care of these critically ill patients.”
www.abbott.co.uk