Among the myriad of causes leading to Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), the most common one has been identified as atherosclerosis. While it can be caused by a variety of environmental factors, atherosclerosis can also develop as a result of heritable risks. If atherosclerosis can be caused by genes, and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) comes about as a result of atherosclerosis, then it is possible that the risk of developing PAD can be discovered early, with the right DNA testing.
Enter NGS Testing
DNA testing, like any other medical and biological discipline, is still innovating and developing. The techniques that have been developed over the years have served their part, but there’s always room for improvement. Conventional techniques such as the Sanger sequencing analyze genes one by one, which is a time-consuming process. Recent advances, collectively called the Next Generation Sequencing techniques speed up the DNA sequencing process.
Whereas Sanger sequencing takes the coding chains one after the other, NGS changes things by investing in a large number of genes simultaneously. This change has meant that the time and cost it takes to conduct DNA sequencing has lessened significantly. This reduction in cost and time means that it is now easier to conduct DNA testing on entire families. It also means that it is easier to track hereditary cardiovascular conditions because tracking gene mutations will even be simpler.
Also, Sanger sequencing has limitations on the kind of genes to be sequenced. Genes including Titin (TTN) as well as the Ryanodine Receptor (RyR2), while previously not possible to sequence with the Sanger sequencing technique, can now easily be handled by NGS testing.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
DNA sequencing has traditionally been an expensive undertaking for families that NGS testing hopes to change. With DNA sequencing making individualized medicine possible, this can mean an entire world of difference in the kind of care a patient receives. Individualized medicine is a concept looking at prediction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses that can be matched to an individual. DNA testing is crucial to finding the right kind of treatment plan that will benefit your patients. NGS testing can get to the root of the problem and provide solutions for it before the situation progresses into potentially life-threatening conditions.
The causes of PAD are many; from environmental factors to genetic ones. However, NGS testing means it is easier to find the exact genetic cause of the disease. This will help you, the medical practitioner, to propose a targeted plan to manage the sickness. NGS testing can also present challenges for counseling of individuals both before and after taking the test. This ability to sequence the entire human genome not only uncovers the causes of PAD but also has the potential to expose different issues and how it impacts treatment.
Conclusion
NGS testing is a great leap forward when it comes to the provision of medical care. Conventional genetic sequencing takes a lot of time and money to come up with an individualized plan of care. NGS testing opens a door to a future where genetic causes for cardiovascular conditions such as PAD can be detected early, treated or managed before they balloon into an unmanageable issue. Contact us for more details.
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