Comparison between quantitative and qualitative biochemical markers in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To compare between the qualitative estimation of biochemical markers Point-of-Care testing) with the quantitative estimation of the same markers in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Design: Case-series study. Setting: This study was carried out in coronary care unit in Ibn- Sena Teaching Hospital in Mosul city from January to November, 2008. Participant: Sixty five patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presented with chest pain. Main outcome measures: Three cardiac markers (Creatine kinase (CK-MB) activities (marker of necrosis), myoglobin (marker of muscle injury), and troponin I (marker of necrosis), were estimated qualitatively (near the patient= Point-of-Care testing), and quantitatively, and the results were compared. Kappa test was used for the association between the quantitative and qualitative test results. Results: The case-series study showed correlation of attributes between qualitative estimation results of troponin I, myoglobin and CK-MB and quantitative estimation results of the same parameters in (88.9%) tests. Conclusion: The early diagnosis of ACS might be facilitated by the use of qualitative point-of-care testing based on CK-MB, troponin I and myoglobin tests.

Keywords

• troponin i
• myoglobin
• mb activity
• point
• care testing
• acute coronary syndrome
• biochemical markers