To determine the accuracy of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) as a new and early cardiac biomarker in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

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Heart diseases including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), are the second leading cause of death all over the world. Therefore, early detection and treatment of AMI have become the most critical and effective life-saving steps. H-FABP is a soluble cytoplasmic protein with a low molecular weight of 14.9 kDa fatty acid carrier protein abundantly present in the cardiac tissue. After myocardial ischemic damage, H-FABP can be detected in blood within 1 hour of onset of chest pain, with peak values at 3-6 hrs. Cardiac troponins, CK-MB, used routinely in the diagnosis of AMI, are not elevated in the initial hours (super acute phase) of AMI, precluding their usefulness in the early diagnosis. Our aim is to determine the accuracy of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) as a new and early cardiac biomarker in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. 55 patients with acute chest pain were enrolled. CK-MB, Troponin I and H-FABP and ECG were done on admission (0-4 h) and 8-12 h after the onset of chest pain. Cardio detect combi kit was used to qualitatively determine H- FABP and troponin I for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and results were obtained within 15 minutes. All the results of ECG, CK MB, Troponin I and H-FABP for every patient were obtained and compared for final diagnosis as per standard criteria. At 0-4 h, after the onset of AMI, the diagnostic sensitivity of H-FABP (93%) was higher than that of troponin I (cTnI) (38%) and CK-MB (13%). It is concluded that H-FABP is a reliable and excellent biochemical marker for early diagnosis of AMI.