St. Catherine Specialty Hospital Zagreb

Leveraging the power of personalized preventive health care

Studies estimate that 6.7% of hospitalized patients in US hospitals have a serious adverse drug reaction, with a fatality rate of 0.32%*. In other words, there are more than 2,216,000 serious adverse reactions, causing over 106,000 deaths each year.

A team of highly trained experts in St. Catherine’s Centre for individualized and preventive medicine is dedicated to developing ways of minimizing such scenarios. It can be achieved by determining a person’s genetic predisposition to develop such responses and by personalizing pharmacotherapy.

Pharmacogenomics

Have you ever taken a medicine and not responded to it at all? Or even experienced negative side effects, while you know for a fact it did wonders for someone else? Pharmacogenomics – the study of how genes affect our response to drugs – might give you the answer.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Many drugs currently available, especially OTC medicine, are designed on a one-size-fits-all basis, but they don’t work the same way for everyone. Predicting who will benefit from a medication or who will experience adverse reactions is next to impossible.

Pharmacogenomics is a fairly young field that combines pharmacology (the science of drugs) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions) to develop medication that will be tailored to a specific person’s genetic makeup – making it much more efficient and safer.

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Testing Principle

Your body’s response to medication is determined by different factors, including your gender, weight, age, fitness level, other medications, any medical conditions, and exposure to environmental agents such as cigarette smoke.

Genetic factors can account for up to 95% of how you respond to medications. By identifying how your genes affect your response to medications, Pharmacogenomic testing may help your doctor adjust your medications to be more effective for you.

Depending on your genes, your body may break down a drug too slowly or too quickly. If you metabolize a drug too slowly, you may be exposed to too much of it, which may result in an adverse drug reaction. If you metabolize a drug too quickly, you may not get enough to have any effect at all. A pharmacogenomic test helps to identify this key indicator.

Proactive Genetic Tests

The basis of genetically determined diseases are genomic disorders. They can lead to a series of very specific clinical manifestations. If your close relative suffers from a specific disease, you will also have a high genetic sensitivity for developing that disease.

Genetic testing can identify changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins in your body. The results therefore confirm or rule out a suspected genetic disorder or, otherwise help determine your chance of developing or transmitting a genetic condition.

Genetic Testing at St. Catherine’s

American company Invitae and St. Catherine Specialty Hospital offer 3 tests to assess your risk for the development of 45 genetically determined diseases. These tests analyze the most significant genetic mutations associated with increased risk of developing hereditary forms of malignant diseases of different organs.

Cancer screen: Tests for an increased risk of inherited cancer, including breast, ovarian, colon, and prostate cancer.

Cardio screen: Tests for an increased risk of developing cardiomyopathies, arrythmias, and genetic forms of high cholesterol.

Genetic health screen: Includes all the conditions in the Cancer Screen and Cardio Screen services, along with several additional medically actionable conditions.

Location

The hospital is located in Zagreb, Croatia’s cultural, economic and business centre. You can take you time off therapy to enjoy all the perks of this true European metropolitan city, taking in all its shopping, fun and leisure options.

If you prefer to spend your time in peace and quiet, you can explore health toursim options, agrotoursim and natural beauties of the surrounding area.

Accommodation

Single use or shared rooms are available after surgical treatment. Five beds are available for one-day surgery and four beds standardized and equipped for 24-hour intensive care and monitoring.

Pricing

      • Pharmacogenomics test:  €700
      • Cancer screenning test:  €540
      • Cardio screening test:  €540
      • Cancer and cardio screening test bundle:  €740

      NOTE  The above prices include 5 days of physical therapy, but do not include accommodation.

      • Regular hospital room:  €150/ day
      • Private suite  €200/ day
      • Postoperative rehabilitation:  €100/ day

Other important information

  • Return flights are organized either on your own or through our partner travel agency
  • Bus/ van transfers to and from the airports in Croatia are organized by our partner travel agency

We Cater to Different Needs

...just a few steps away.

1.

Smaller groups and individuals

2.

People with either minor mobility problems or wheelchair bound

3.

Any age group: children, adults and seniors

Explore Medical Treatment Opportunities

Where holiday meets top quality medical care

Affordable prices and excellent value for money

Individualized patient-therapist care

Breathtaking beauties of the Adriatic coast

Engaging attractions of Continental Croatia

Rich history, vibrant culture and exquisite authentic cuisine

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