Summary Tables
The following tables summarize currently used cardiac biomarkers.
Cardiac Biomarker Tests
| Marker | what it is | Tissue source | Reason for Increase | Time to Increase | Time Back to Normal | When/How Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiac Troponin | Regulatory protein complex; two cardiac-specific isoforms: T and I | Heart | Injury to heart | 2 to 8 hours | Remains elevated for 7 to 14 days | Diagnose heart attack, risk stratification, assist in deciding management, assess degree of damage |
| CK | Enzyme; total of three different isoenzymes | Heart, brain, and skeletal muscle |
Injury to skeletal muscle and/or heart cells |
4 to 6 hours after injury, peaks in 18 to 24 hours |
48 to 72 hours, unless due to continuing injury |
Frequently performed in combination with CK-MB |
| CK-MB | Heart-related isoenzymes of CK | Heart primarily, but also in skeletal muscle | Injury to heart and/or muscle cells | 4 to 6 hours after heart attack, peaks in 12 to 20 hours | 24 to 48 hours, unless new or continuing damage | Less specific than troponin, may be ordered when troponin is not available |
| Myoglobin | Oxygen-storing protein | Heart and other muscle cells | Injury to muscle and/or heart cells | 2 to 3 hours after injury, peaks in 8 to 12 hours | Within one day after injury | Used less frequently; sometimes performed with troponin to provide early diagnosis |
Biomarker Tests User for Prognosis
| bioMarker | what it is | Reason for Increase | When/How Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| hs-CRP | Protein | Inflammation |
May help determine risk of future cardiac events in those patients who have had a heart attack |
| BNP and NT-proBNP |
Heart hormone | Heart failure; increased risk of another heart attack | Usually used to recognize heart failure, but an increased level in people with ACS indicates an increased risk of recurrent events |
