Genetic test identifies at-risk hypertensives

Myriad Genetics, based in Salt Lake City, has launched a new genetic test called CardiaRisk that will help physicians identify which hypertensive patients are at a significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The test will also identify which patients are likely to respond to low-salt diet therapy and antihypertensive drug therapy.

CardiaRisk identifies the presence of a genetic variation of the AGT gene. Hypertensive patients with the variant gene are 43% more likely to progress, and their condition is more likely to occur earlier in life and become more severe.

The test takes about two weeks to perform and costs $395.