Cardiac Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are endogenous proteins, for example enzymes or hormones which reflect heart function and serve as indices of disease risk and diagnosis. Monoclonal antibodies against cardiac biomarkers are an ideal tool for laboratory as well as clinical settings with their precision in early detection of risks associated with cardiac diseases. With the increasing use of cardiac biomarkers in multiple settings, antibodies to these biomarkers have become important tools in detection. antibodies-online offers a comprehensive range of antibodies to cardiovascular biomarkers, including Troponin, NT-proBNP, Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A and Myoglobin.

Cardiac Troponin

Cardiac troponin is recommended to be used for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction by consensus guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Main advantages of cardiac troponin as cardiac marker are its superior sensitivity and accuracy. It enters into the patients bloodstream soon after a heart attack. It also stays in it days after all other biomarkers go back to normal levels. Two forms of troponin may be measured: troponin T and troponin I. Troponin I is highly specific to the heart and stays higher longer than creatinine kinase-MB.

Troponin T2, Cardiac (TNNT2)

Troponin I Type 3 (Cardiac) (TNNI3)

N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)

The B-type natriuretic peptides BNP and NT-proBNP have become increasingly established in the clinic in recent years. NT-proBNP levels in the blood are used for screening, diagnosis of acute congestive heart failure and may be useful to establish prognosis in heart failure. The plasma concentrations of both BNP and NT-proBNP are also typically increased in patients with asymptomatic or symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction and is associated with coronary artery disease and myocardial ischemia.

The Natriuretic neuropeptides ANP, BNP and CNP are produced primarily in the cardiac atria under normal conditions. The main stimulus for ANP and BNP peptide synthesis and secretion is cardiac wall stress. The natriuretic peptide BNP and its biologically inactive signal peptide NT-proBNP are secreted from cardiac myocytes into the blood in equimolar concentrations. Cardiac ventricular myocytes constitute the major source of BNP-related peptides. Ventricular NT-proBNP production is upregulated in cardiac failure and locally in the area surrounding a myocardial infarct.

Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A, Pappalysin 1 (PAPPA)

Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein (PAPP-A) is found in maternal blood that increases as pregnancy progresses, although it is not specific to pregnancy. It is thought to be involved in local proliferative processes such as wound healing and bone remodeling. Low plasma level of this protein has been suggested as a biochemical marker for pregnancies with aneuploid fetuses. PAPPA has also been suggested as a potential biomarker of acute myocardial infarction and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

D-dimer

D-Dimer, an expression of ongoing thrombus formation and lysis, is a marker for the early diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes presenting with chest pain. D-Dimer and fibrinogen levels are significantly higher in patients with acute ischemic events like myocardial infarction and unstable angina. It adds independent information to the traditional assessment for myocardial infarction. D-Dimer can be incorporated into clinical decision models in the ED.

Creatine Kinase MB (CK-MB)

Creatine kinase (CK), is an enzyme expressed by various tissues and cell types. CK catalyses the conversion of creatine and uses ATP to create PCr and ADP. CK enhances skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle contractility, and is involved in the generation of blood pressure. Further, the ADP-scavenging action of creatine kinase has been implicated in bleeding disorders: persons with highly elevated plasma CK could be prone to major bleeding. Clinically, creatine kinase is assayed in blood tests as a marker of damage of CK-rich tissue such as in myocardial infarction, rhabdomyolysis, muscular dystrophy, autoimmune myositides, and acute kidney injury. Troponin measurement has largely replaced CK-MB as indication for myocardial damage in heart attacks.

Myoglobin

Myoglobin is a sensitive marker for muscle injury, making it a potential marker for heart attack in patients with chest pain. However, elevated myoglobin has low specificity for acute myocardial infarction and thus CK-MB, cardiac troponin, ECG, and clinical signs should be taken into account to make the diagnosis.

References

Rene von der Forst, MSE

Marketing and E-Commerce Manager

Master of Science in engineering. 12+ years of experience in marketing and e-commerce in the life science sector.

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