THROMBUS PRECURSOR PROTEIN (TPP(TM)) - MARKER OF THROMBOSIS EARLY IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent immunoassay for quant ifying the immediate precursor proteins to intravascular thrombi, This thrombus precursor protein (TpP(TM)) assay identifies active thrombos is in several clinical conditions, including early myocardial infarcti on (IM), In a study of patients recruited for the GUSTO intervention s tudy, MI patients had concentrations of TpP 4-20-fold that of controls ; patients diagnosed without MI had concentrations similar to the cont rol subjects, In a separate study of subjects presenting at the emerge ncy room with chest pain, MI patients who presented early after the on set of chest pain had TpP concentrations significantly (P < 0.01) high er than controls, Patients presenting late or diagnosed with other che st pain had concentrations within the reference range, The potential u tility of the TpP assay as an aid for the diagnosis of thrombotic MI a nd other thrombotic conditions is described.