Laboratory Monitoring for Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia and Other Disorders in Obese Patients Key to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

WHAT:             According to the CDC, approximately one-third of Americans are now considered to be obese, putting them at a greater risk of developing hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and a variety of other illnesses. Once regarded as an energy “storage depot,” adipose tissue (body fat) is now considered a separate body organ that can produce biologically active molecules. These molecules could potentially contribute to the development of conditions that lead to cardiovascular disease. “We already know that fat is associated with a number of inflammatory cytokines, and that inflammation plays a major role in coronary heart disease,” said Marc-Andre Cornier, MD, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Adipose tissue has also been shown to release fatty acids that, when processed by the liver, may contribute to insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

As the link between obesity and the development of these conditions grows stronger, laboratory monitoring using traditional assays, such as fasting plasma glucose, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and HbA1C is becoming more important in obese patients. In the future, genetic tests may be added that will provide a more complete picture of the obese patient’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. At a seminar titled “The Metabolic Complications of Obesity,” Cornier will discuss the links between obesity and metabolic diseases, sharing some of the research findings from the University of Colorado’s Center for Human Nutrition.

WHEN:             Wednesday, July 18, 2006, 2:30-5:00 P.M.

WHO:              Marc-Andre Cornier, MD, the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO

WHERE:            Room 6F of the San Diego Convention Center, at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). AACC’s members develop and perform tests conducted in hospital laboratories, clinics, medical centers and other health care settings. For more information on AACC, visit www.aacc.org

Interviews with Dr.Cornier may be arranged on site or by telephone.