New non-invasive test can measure heart health

Edward Murphy is undergoing the Endopat test, which can measure the health of the heart and blood flow.

/ CBS/CBS2

A new medical test could make predicting one's risk for a heart attack through invasive means a thing of the past.

CBS Station WCBS New York reported on the Endopat test that can measure blood flow through one's fingers.

"The endothelium [the lining of the blood vessel] in the brachial artery of the arm is the same endothelium that's in the heart," said Dr. Steven Reisman of the New York Cardiac Diagnostic Center, "and studies have shown that when that's abnormal, the ones in the heart are abnormal."

In the test, blood flow sensors are attached on one finger of each hand. Then a blood pressure cuff expands to halt blood flow to one hand. After five minutes, the cuff is deflated, and the sensors detect how the blood recovers.

Watch the report on the Endopat test from CBS2 New York below:

Here's how the results are determined: A normal result will show a resurge in blood flow following stoppage from the inflated cuff. However, an abnormal result is indicated by when it only recovers to what it was before the cuff was inflated.

Edward Murphy, who does not have symptoms of heart problems, took the test and his result came up normal. "I think I'm doing OK, but I think it's, like, time to start checking and keeping an eye on things," he said, "because I think, you know, I heard after 50, everything goes downhill."

[foo8259]

An easier test is to look at the fingers for signs of "clubbing"

[bobnjersey]

[In the test, blood flow sensors are attached on one finger of each hand. Then a blood pressure cuff expands to halt blood flow to one hand. After five minutes, the cuff is deflated, and the sensors detect how the blood recovers.]
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so ... what's this test cost ... like $1500 ... for a five minute procedure?

[foo8259]

Yeah, likely -- anything military or medical has blank check.

[alphaa10000]

This fascinating story about the Endopat test is incomplete-- it leaves out details like (1) why a return to normal blood flow after release of constriction is not an indicator of health and (2) what is considered a good sign.

We are left to presume that resurgent blood flow which returns to merely normal indicates problems with the endothelium.

Dr. Max Gomez brought us an important story, but he should clarify the criteria defining a normal endothelial response after constriction.