The levels of cardiac biomarkers in your blood are determined by this test. Enzymes, hormones, and proteins are some examples of these markers.

After your heart has been put under a lot of stress and has been harmed from not getting enough oxygen, cardiac biomarkers become visible in your blood. This could be the result of a heart attack. These levels, however, may be excessive because of other concomitant causes e.g. kidney disease. The concentrations of biomarkers are frequently used to determine the magnitude of a heart attack and the severity of your heart's damage immediately.

Other names for this test include:

• CK

• CK-MB

• Cardiac Troponin T

• Troponin I

• Myoglobin 

Use of cardiac biomarkers

Cardiac biomarkers assist medical professionals in determining whether a heart attack (myocardial infarction), angina, heart failure, or another issue is to blame for a patient's symptoms. Increases in cardiac enzymes might potentially be a sign of myocardial ischemia or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). These conditions are treated in various ways. Making sure you receive the right care depends on a precise diagnosis.

Types of cardiac biomarkers 

After your heart has been put under a lot of stress and has been harmed from not getting enough oxygen, cardiac biomarkers become visible in your blood. This could be the result of a heart attack. These levels, however, may be excessive for other causes. The concentrations of biomarkers are frequently used to determine the magnitude of a heart attack and the severity of your heart's damage immediately.

Troponin - The tiny filaments that make up muscle fibers are composed of proteins called troponin C, I, and T. They control how the muscles' contractile proteins move. The most precise and sensitive test for myocardial injury may be the troponin I test.

Troponins originating from the heart are TnI (cTnI) and TNT. (cTnT). They often become noticeable for the first time 2 to 4 hours after the start of acute MI, also known as a heart attack, and reach their peak 10 to 24 hours later. The troponin evaluation is regarded as a test of preference due to the long persistence of values (upto 1 to 2 weeks).

Myoglobin - Skeletal and cardiac muscles both contain the protein myoglobin. After a tissue injury, it is quickly released. Even one hour after myocardial damage, levels may be high. It should be emphasized that injury to the skeletal muscles might also have this effect. It is unlikely to be MI if the patient exhibits acute symptoms but their myoglobin level does not increase in 3 to 4 hours. There are numerous techniques available for measuring it. Myoglobin is a less common cardiac marker despite a rapid rise due to its low specificity.

Creatinine kinase (CK) - Over the course of a day, this enzyme can also be tested multiple times. If you've had a heart attack, it will frequently at least double. However, it is not very specific because, aside from a heart attack, levels of CK might rise in many other circumstances.

CK-MB - It is a variety of CK. Detecting heart damage from a heart attack is more sensitive. 4 to 6 hours after a heart attack, CK-MB increases. However, things usually return to normal in a day or two. This makes it difficult for a doctor to determine whether your recent chest pain was caused by a heart attack.

Other cardiac markers:

• Aspartate transaminase (AST)

• Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA)

• High sensitivity CRP

• Homocysteine 

• Pro-brain natriuretic peptide

• Glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB

Results:

The nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) results are displayed. Young, healthy individuals frequently have little to no cardiac troponin in their blood. Troponin I concentrations frequently fall below 0.12 ng/mL. Troponin T concentrations frequently fall below 0.01 ng/mL.

Results at various normal levels. However, cardiac troponin concentrations over the 99th percentile of the standard range are indicative of a heart attack and heart muscle injury.