Myoglobinemia as Index to Myocardial Infarction

Excerpt

The care of patients with chest pain typical or atypical of myocardial ischemia in intensive care units has a high per-diem cost. But the fraction of patients in such units who do develop infarction may be as low as 30%. The need to minimize costs and optimize proper use of these units has stimulated investigators to develop more specific and rapid methods for the diagnosis and assessment of myocardial infarction. The demand for more rapid diagnosis has been further kindled by the enthusiasm for early interventions that may protect ischemic myocardium and reduce ultimate infarct size. Isoenzymatic and radioisotopic diagnostic