sydänbiomarkkeri

A sydänbiomarkkeri, or cardiac biomarker, is a substance that is released into the bloodstream when there is damage to the heart muscle. These biomarkers are typically proteins that are present in high concentrations within heart cells. When the heart muscle is injured, for example, during a heart attack, these proteins leak out of the damaged cells and into the circulation, where they can be detected by laboratory tests.

The most commonly used cardiac biomarker is troponin. Troponin is a protein complex that plays a crucial role in muscle contraction. There are different types of troponin, but cardiac-specific troponin T and troponin I are the most relevant for diagnosing heart attacks. Elevated levels of cardiac troponin in the blood are a strong indicator of myocardial injury.

Another important cardiac biomarker is creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), an isoenzyme of creatine kinase. While CK-MB can also be found in skeletal muscle, the MB isoenzyme is more prevalent in the heart. However, troponin is now considered more sensitive and specific for detecting heart muscle damage than CK-MB.

Other biomarkers that have been used or are being investigated for cardiac assessment include myoglobin, which is released very early after cardiac injury, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP), which are elevated in heart failure.

Cardiac biomarkers are essential tools in the diagnosis and management of acute coronary syndromes, such as heart attacks. By measuring the levels of these substances, healthcare professionals can confirm or rule out a heart attack, assess the extent of damage, and guide treatment decisions. Serial measurements over time are often performed to track changes in biomarker levels and provide a clearer picture of the cardiac event.