abstract
- The use of serum myoglobin determinations in the diagnosis and quantitation of acute myocardial infarction was studied in 53 patients. Serial blood samples collected for the first 72 h after pain were analysed for serum myoglobin using a radioimmunoassay procedure. Samples were also assayed for serum creatine kinase (CK) and its myocardial isoenzyme CK-MB, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha HBDH). Analysis of first and second samples obtained at mean times of 7.6 and 10.7 h respectively after pain produced the following detection rate: serum myoglobin 85% and 98%; serum CK 71% and 85%; serum AST 58% and 81%; serum CK-MB 29% and 60%; serum alpha HBDH 23% and 33% respectively. Total CK-MB and myoglobin release from damaged myocardium were calculated using the method of Norris et al. [16]. A significant correlation was obtained between infarct size calculated from CK-MB and myoglobin in the whole group (n = 29, r = 0.71, p < 0.001). The correlation was even more significant for smaller infarcts with CK-MB release < 220 U/l (n = 13, r = 0.92, p < 0.001).