New Website Highlights the Risk of Elevated Homocysteine

Dundee, Scotland , 2006-06-01

A new website explaining the health risks associated with elevated levels of homocysteine has been launched today by Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited.

Building on the previous healthcare professionals' only site, www.homocysteine.net now offers the public the latest information on this emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke and dementia. Guidance is also given on healthy eating, scientific developments and the need for regular testing.

Globally cardiovascular disease accounts for over 16.7 million deaths per year.(1) Many of these deaths may have been potentially preventable due to their association with elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood, emphasising the need for greater understanding of this metabolic protein by-product and the benefits of routine testing. At present, anyone with a homocysteine level of 12 micro mol/L or above is considered to be 'at risk' from numerous medical conditions. However, for every 3 micro mol/L drop, the risk of developing coronary heart disease is decreased by 16% and stroke by 24%.(2)

Homcysteine.net aims to keep the public at the forefront of homocysteine research with independent professional reviewers providing much of the content and experts in the field making regular contributions. Commenting on the website, Dr. Andrew McCaddon, Honorary Research Fellow of Wales College of Medicine said "This resource is invaluable for bringing homocysteine-related information to the general public in a succinct and 'consumer-friendly' form."

Svein Lien, Axis-Shield CEO, added "Clinical interest in homocysteine is growing and with the help of our test marketing partners we will continue to promote the need to screen for blood levels of this important marker, particularly in higher risk populations where other risk factors for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases may also be present, with multiplicative risk. The ready correction of most cases of elevated homocysteine blood levels by increased intake of certain B vitamins and folic acid is an important factor in testing."

Homocysteine.net also provides access to worldwide organisations specialising in homocysteine-related conditions such as the European Society of Cardiology.

(1) American Heart Association (2004). International Cardiovasuclar Disease Statistics fact sheet http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/
1077185395308FS06INT4(ebook).pdf#search='cardiovascular% 20disease%20norway'

(Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

(2) Wald, D.S., Law, M and Morris, JK. (2002). Homocysteine and cardiovascular disease; evidence on casuablity from a meta-analysis. BMJ, 325(7374).

Notes to Editors

About Axis-Shield

Axis-Shield is an international in vitro diagnostics company, headquartered in Dundee with R&D; and manufacturing bases in Dundee and Oslo. The Group specialises in the development, manufacture and marketing of innovative proprietary diagnostics kits in areas of clinical need, including cardiovascular and neurological diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. It has a special focus on effective testing at the point of care, for improved patient management.

For more information on Axis-Shield, please refer to www.axis-shield.com MULTIMEDIA

AVAILABLE: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5159857

Contact

CONTACT: Axis-Shield plc Stewart Kennedy +44 (0)1382 422000 [email protected] or De Facto Communications Christina Mavroleon +44 (0)207 861 3838 [email protected] , ,