That’s why we launched ADVANCE®, a new precision medicine platform that is transforming genetic and clinical data into new insights for the diagnosis and management complex health conditions.
Are you experiencing symptoms of pancreatitis?
Here is what you need to know about the pancreas and pancreatic disease.
Pancreatitis occurs when these enzymes become activated before leaving the pancreas, essentially beginning to digest the organ and causing inflammation, which leads to severe pain and other disabling problems.
Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is the initial form of the disease and it typically occurs suddenly and presents with severe abdominal pain. Symptoms normally require emergency medical treatment. The majority of patients will make a full recovery within a few days, but some patients develop further complications that may possibly lead to death if medical intervention is delayed.
Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis (RAP) occurs when patients develop two or more of acute pancreatitis. Research has revealed up to 20% of acute pancreatitis becomes recurrent acute pancreatitis. During this time, it is recommended that patients get genetic testing done to help determine the underlying causes of their disease. By uncovering the underlying causes early on, care providers can help mitigate the progression of the disease and provide prompt medical intervention that may improve the patient’s disease trajectory.
Pancreatitis has several different causes. These can include your genetics, gallstones, high levels of fat in the blood and things you are exposed to from the environment, including medications, alcohol and smoking. Each different underlying cause may warrant a unique treatment.
Diseases and related conditions of the pancreas can be hard to detect, and they have many possible risk factors and potential causes. Because of this, traditional tests can be imprecise, making it difficult to quickly make an accurate diagnosis.
Fortunately, advances in the understanding of pancreatic disease combined with new methods of genetic testing allow for earlier detection, diagnosis, and management plan of pancreatitis. This information helps your doctor develop a more effective course of treatment and may minimize the time spent bouncing between specialists and performing diagnostic testing.
Who Should Get Tested? PancreasDx may be appropriate for anyone who has had more than one attack of acute pancreatitis.
Which Genes Are Tested? PRSS1-2, SPINK1, CFTR, CPA1, CASR, CEL, CLDN2, CTRC, GGT1, PRSS3, SBDS, SLC26A9 and UBR1.
ArielDx® Lipids analyzes genetic susceptibility to hypertriglyceridemia, the presence of elevated triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid), in the blood. Hypertriglyceridemia increases an individual’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and pancreatitis. Severe hypertriglyceridemia is an established cause of pancreatitis, accounting for up to 10% of acute pancreatitis cases [1]. Variants in several genes can cause hereditary disorders of lipid metabolism or increase an individual’s risk for hypertriglyceridemia. Genetic testing may be helpful in determining the underlying cause of a patient’s disease and provide clinical guidance for targeted treatment. It is available as an add-on to PancreasDx during the ordering process.
Who Should Get Tested? ArielDx Lipids may be appropriate for individuals with a personal or familial history of hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis.
Which Genes Are Tested? APOA5, APOC2, FABP4, LPL, PPARG, GPIHBP1 and a region of interest in APOB exon 29.
ArielDx® PGx is a clinical genetic test and interpretation service that can help your healthcare provider identify how you are likely to respond to a medication or a specific medication dose. It can also help you and your healthcare provider avoid adverse drug events that are associated with specific gene variants.
Who Should Get Tested? ArielDx PGx may be appropriate before a new medication is prescribed, if you have a history of poor drug response or adverse drug reactions, or if you are prescribed multiple medications. It is available as an add-on to PancreasDx during the ordering process. Click here for more information about ArielDx PGx.
Which Genes Are Tested? CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP345, CYP4F2, SLCO1B1, TPMT, UGTIAI, and VKORC1.
Talk to your care provider to see if genetic testing may be helpful for your care. If appropriate, they can place an order using our secure online portal or by fax.
After the order has been placed, you will receive an email invitation to complete registration for testing.
A saliva DNA collection kit will be shipped to your home. We will get in touch with you to review your insurance coverage and any potential out-of-pocket costs.
Once you send us your sample, we will conduct your genetic analysis. The results will be released to your care provider first, so they can go over the results with you, and then released to you.
PancreasDx is ordered by your doctor. Our guide will help you have a more informed discussion with your care team about whether genetic testing is the right fit for you.
Anyone who has had an attack of acute pancreatitis, especially if they have had more than one attack. In addition, anyone who has signs or symptoms of pancreatic disease such as abdominal pain after eating, chronic diarrhea, abnormal findings on a CT or MRI scan, or an abnormal laboratory test linked to the pancreas. An early evaluation may possibly prevent lengthy and costly evaluations, delayed diagnosis and more complications.
For Hypertriglyceridemia ArielDx Lipids may be appropriate for individuals with a personal or familial history of hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis. It is available as an add-on to PancreasDx during the ordering process. For Pharmacogenomics ArielDx PGx may be appropriate before a new medication is prescribed, if you have a history of poor drug response or adverse drug reactions, or if you are prescribed multiple medications. It is available as an add-on to PancreasDx during the ordering process.
