BIOCHEMICAL-DIAGNOSIS OF MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION WITHIN THE THROMBOLYTIC TIME WINDOW

A demonstrated temporal change in the total activity of creatine kinas e or mass measurement of the cardio-specific isoenzyme creatine kinase MB is currently used as the biochemical diagnosis of myocardial infar ction. The isoforms of creatine kinase MB may provide an earlier diagn ostic marker of myocardial infarction than the currently available bio chemical markers. We compare the sensitivity and specificity of total creatine kinase activity, creatine kinase MB mass measurement and the muscle and heart specific isoforms of creatine kinase in the early dia gnosis of myocardial infarction. Using current methodologies, neither CK isoform offered any advantage over CK mass measurement as an early marker of ischaemic myocardial damage.