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.
Your pancreas creates digestive enzymes, which are made and released in an inactive, harmless form into the small intestine where they become activated and the process of digestion begins. The pancreas also regulates blood sugar in the body by releasing insulin and other hormones into the bloodstream.
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.
Pancreatitis can be a long-lasting condition where the health of the pancreas worsens over time. It is clinically categorized as either acute, recurrent acute, or chronic.
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.
PancreasDx® integrates your genetic data with your medical history and current symptoms to provide a comprehensive view of the factors that may be contributing to current conditions. Our reporting provides genetic and biological markers along with evidence-based guidelines that are individualized to each patient. Our genetic test results may also help you understand if there is an increased risk of pancreatitis in your relatives.
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. 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.
Our goal is to minimize disease effects and maximize health and quality of life.
For PancreasDx: Anyone who has had more than one attack of acute pancreatitis.
For ArielDx Lipids: Individuals with a personal or familial history of hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis.
Our PancreasDx test analyzes genes that are related to pancreatitis and its complications, including PRSS1-2, SPINK1, CFTR, CPA1, CASR, CEL, CLDN2, CTRC, GGT1, PRSS3, SBDS, SLC26A9 and UBR1.
Our ArielDx Lipids test analyzes genes that are related to hypertriglyceridemia including APOA5, APOC2, FABP4, LPL, PPARG, GPIHBP1 and a region of interest in APOB exon 29.
Ariel uses some of the highest quality next-generation sequencing on the market and our laboratory is CLIA-certified.
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.
PancreasDx analyzes genes that are related to pancreatitis and its complications, including PRSS1-2, SPINK1, CFTR, CPA1, CASR, CEL, CLDN2, CTRC, GGT1, PRSS3, SBDS, SLC26A9 and UBR1.
If appropriate, your clinician can order an additional gene panel related to how your body handles fats and cholesterol in your blood that leads to an increased genetic risk of pancreatitis:
Ordering PancreasDx PancreasDx is ordered by your doctor or care provider. After the order is placed, you will receive an email invitation to register for access to Ariel’s patient portal.
Patient Registration In the patient portal, you will be asked to complete your account registration and consent to testing and standard billing processes with your insurance. Once this is complete, you have the opportunity to answer some questions about your symptoms, your health history and whether anyone else in your family has similar symptoms.
Billing and Insurance Once your account is registered, Ariel will contact your insurance to discuss your specific plan benefits and any potential out-of-pocket expenses.
DNA Collection After registration, Ariel will ship a DNA collection kit to your home for sample collection. Our painless collection process collects cells using a large Q-tip (buccal swab), swiped across the inside of your cheek – each cell contains your DNA, which Ariel then uses for genetic analysis. Ariel includes a pre-paid padded envelope for you to return your sample directly through the mail.
Final Report Within 2-4 weeks of your sample arriving at our lab, your doctor will receive your PancreasDx report and be able to share it with you, in person or through the secure Ariel website. Log in to see your results and access tools for help, questions or for more information.
Extra Help Ariel provides access to trained genetic counselors who can help you understand the test, the need for the test, and what it means for you and your family.
Ariel accepts all insurance plans. As a new provider, we are not considered an in-network provider with all insurance plans. While the organization continues to grow, Ariel will work towards establishing in-network status.
The Ariel team follows the process below:
1. When your physician orders PancreasDx®, you will receive a ‘Welcome’ email with a link to Ariel’s secure patient portal to register. During registration, you will be asked to provide your insurance information.
2. The Ariel team will contact your insurance provider to verify eligibility and benefits to assess potential out-of-pocket costs. It is important to note that initial determinations from your insurance are subject to change, based on your clinical record and the discretion of the insurer.
3. Ariel’s billing team will contact you by phone to discuss benefits findings and any potential financial responsibility (i.e. co-pay, co-insurance, deductible). Ariel works with your insurance directly through the claims and appeals process. Our team will exhaust all efforts to obtain payment from your insurance plan to reduce or eliminate your financial responsibility for the service.
The security of your medical and genetic information is our priority. Ariel’s online portal meets or exceeds the highest regulations for health information privacy and security.
Furthermore, national and state laws exist to protect patient health information, which includes genetic information.
