Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
Use of the Corus® CAD Gene Expression Test for Assessment of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease Likelihood in
Jose Vargas1, Joao A C Lima, William E Kraus
1MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Insights
A new gene expression score (GES) helps identify patients without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), reducing unnecessary invasive procedures. This blood test improves diagnostic accuracy for chest pain causes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genomics
- Diagnostic Medicine
Background:
- Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis is challenging, often leading to invasive procedures.
- Current diagnostic pathways result in over 60% of patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography (ICA) without obstructive CAD.
- Accurate identification of patients without obstructive CAD is crucial to avoid unnecessary testing and costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the analytical and clinical validity of a whole blood gene expression score (GES) for diagnosing obstructive CAD.
- To assess the clinical utility of the Corus® CAD test in identifying symptomatic patients without obstructive CAD.
- To evaluate the evidence supporting the use of GES in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Review of published literature on the Corus® CAD gene expression score.
- Analysis of assessments by independent parties regarding the test's validity and utility.
- Evaluation of data from two multi-center trials validating the GES.
Main Results:
- The Corus® CAD gene expression score has demonstrated analytical and clinical validity in multi-center trials.
- The GES effectively identifies symptomatic patients who do not have obstructive CAD.
- Independent assessments support the test's performance characteristics.
Conclusions:
- The Corus® CAD gene expression score is a validated tool for assessing obstructive CAD.
- This non-invasive blood test can help physicians rule out obstructive CAD in symptomatic patients.
- The GES offers potential to reduce unnecessary invasive cardiac procedures and improve diagnostic efficiency.
Abstract:
The determination of the underlying etiology of symptoms suggestive of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD, ≥50% stenosis in a major coronary artery) is a common clinical challenge in both primary care and cardiology clinics. Usual care in low to medium risk patients often involves a family history, risk factor assessment, and then stress testing with or without non-invasive imaging. If positive, this is often followed by invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Despite extensive adoption of this usual care paradigm, more than 60% of patients referred for angiography do not have obstructive CAD. In order to robustly identify those symptomatic patients without obstructive CAD, who can avoid subsequent cardiac testing and look elsewhere for the cause of their symptoms, a recently described whole blood gene expression score (GES: Corus® CAD, CardioDx, Inc., Palo Alto, CA) has been developed and validated in two multi-center trials. This paper reviews the published literature and assessments by independent parties regarding the analytical and clinical validity as well as the clinical utility of the Corus® CAD test.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:27Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care