Microvolt T-Wave Alternans Test Identifies Latent Risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Cambridge Heart, Inc. (OTCBB: CAMH), a developer of non-invasive diagnostic tests for cardiac disease, today announced that the prognostic value of its Microvolt T-Wave Alternans™ (MTWA) test was recently featured in Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology (DAIC) as the Case of the Week.
The clinical case illustrates the value of the test in a patient with chronic hypertension and dilated cardiomyopathy with moderately reduced left ventricular function. The patient tested positive for MTWA and eventually received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Eighteen months after implantation, the patient experienced SCA while at his home and was successfully resuscitated by a shock from the device.
"MTWA helped identify the patient's latent arrhythmic risk and was the trigger for further evaluation which ultimately led to life-saving therapy," noted Ralph Nader, M.D., interventional cardiologist at the Miami Center for Advanced Cardiology in Miami Beach, Florida, and the author of the case study. "Since the majority of sudden cardiac arrests occur in patients without severe left ventricular dysfunction, it is important to have a tool that can distinguish this risk."
The case study can be found on the DAIC website at:
http://www.dicardiology.com/article/case-study-mtwa-identifies-latent-arrhythmic-risk-hypertensive-cardiomyopathy
"This case is another important example of how MTWA can play a key role in managing patients with heart disease," said Ali Haghighi-Mood, CEO of Cambridge Heart. "By providing a unique piece of clinical information about a patient's risk for life-threatening heart rhythms, MTWA helps make prediction and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest a reality."
Diagnostic & Interventional Cardiology is the widest-reaching provider of new product information, technology trends, application strategies and related connectivity solutions in the diagnostic and interventional cardiology markets.
Cambridge Heart addresses a key problem in cardiac diagnosis – the identification of those at risk of sudden cardiac death. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) accounts for approximately one fourth of all cardiac deaths, or approximately 300,000 deaths, in the United States each year – more than lung cancer, breast cancer and HIV/AIDS combined. Out-of-hospital survival is less than 8 percent, making prediction and prevention critically important. It is estimated that there are approximately 10 to 12 million heart attack and heart failure patients in the U.S. who can benefit from annual Microvolt T-Wave Alternans (MTWA) testing. MTWA is a marker of SCA risk which is measured during a non-invasive treadmill test using Cambridge Heart's proprietary technologies. The Company's MTWA test is the only one of its kind that is reimbursed by Medicare under a National Coverage Policy.
Questions can be directed to the Company's management or its investor relations firm at the contact numbers provided.
About Cambridge Heart, Inc.
Cambridge Heart develops and commercializes non-invasive diagnostic tests for cardiac disease, with a focus on identifying those at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The Company's products incorporate proprietary Microvolt T-Wave Alternans™ (MTWA) measurement technologies, including the patented Analytic Spectral Method® and ultrasensitive disposable electrode sensors. The Company's MTWA test, originally based on research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is reimbursed by Medicare under its National Coverage Policy.
Cambridge Heart, founded in 1990, is based in Tewksbury, MA. It is traded on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) under the symbol CAMH.OB. For additional information, please refer to the Company's website at: http://www.cambridgeheart.com.
Statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. In some cases, we use words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates", "could", and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements.Factors that may cause or contribute to such differences are identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under "Risk Factors", which is on file with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov .In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date.While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so except as may be legally necessary, even if our estimates should change.
Contacts:
Cambridge Heart:
Vincenzo LiCausi, 978-654-7600
Chief
Financial Officer
vincenzol@cambridgeheart.com
or
Media:
KOGS
Communication
Edna Kaplan, 781-639-1910
kaplan@kogspr.com
or
Investor
Relations:
Allen & Caron
Matt H. Clawson,
949-474-4300
matt@allencaron.com
