CK enzyme Blood Tests for Heart Attack

Blood tests confirm (or refute) suspicions raised in the early stages of evaluation typically in an emergency room, intensive care unit or urgent care setting. Such tests are sometimes called heart damage markers or cardiac enzymes.

The blood test most commonly used to confirm the existence of heart muscle damage is the creatine kinase (KREE'ah-teen KI'nas), or CK for short. A small fraction of the CK enzyme, CK-MB, is often measured as well. CK-MB shows an increase above normal in a person's blood test about six hours after the start of a heart attack. It reaches its peak level in about 18 hours and returns to normal in 24 to 36 hours. The peak level and the return to normal can be delayed in a person who's had a large heart attack, especially if they don't get early and aggressive treatment.

Tests can measure the level of other cardiac muscle proteins called troponins (tro-PO'ninz), specifically troponin T (cTnT) and troponin I (cTnI). These proteins control the interactions between actin and myosin, which contracts or squeezes the heart muscle. Troponins specific to heart muscle have been found, allowing the development of blood tests (assays) that can detect minor heart muscle injury ("microinfarction") not detected by CK-MB. Normally the level of cTnT and cTnI in the blood is very low. It increases substantially within several hours (on average four to six hours) of muscle damage. It peaks at 10 to 24 hours and can be detected for up to 10 to 14 days.

More information about CK enzyme Blood Tests for Rapid Detection of Heart Attack

Cedars-Sinai Researchers Awarded $5.5 Million To Develop Novel Stem Cell Treatments for Heart Attack Patients

Released: 10/28/2009 8:45 PM EDT
Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Newswise — A team of Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute stem cell researchers led by Eduardo Marbán, M.D., Ph.D. has been awarded a four-year, $5.5 million grant from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to fund research leading to clinical trials of new treatments for heart attack patients.

The grant will be used to continue Marbán’s development of cardiac stem cell therapies to strengthen and heal damaged heart muscle caused by cardiac arrest. The grant is part of a new strategy by the California state stem cell agency aimed at speeding the process of moving medical research from the laboratory to patient care.

Generally, it can take a decade or more to develop a new medical treatment to the point of securing federal approval for a clinical trial. The state institute’s Disease Team Research Awards, however, are designed to help researchers develop medical theories into treatments tested by clinical trials in four years or less.

Marbán’s team was one of 11 in California to receive a Disease Team Research Award and is the only team focusing on heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2009, an estimated 785,000 Americans will have a first-time heart attack and about 470,000 will have a recurrent attack.

Earlier this year, Marbán, who is director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, and his team completed the first procedure in which a patient’s own heart tissue was used to grow specialized heart stem cells that were then injected back into the patient’s heart in an effort to repair and re-grow healthy muscle in a heart that had been injured by a heart attack. The minimally-invasive procedure was completed on the first patient on June 26.

The Disease Team Award will enable Marbán’s team to develop other, new stem cell therapies for heart patients, including a potential treatment for patients with advanced heart failure.

“The support Cedars-Sinai is receiving from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will be an important element to succeeding in the fight against heart disease,” Marbán said. “What we work on in our stem cell lab today could translate into tomorrow’s innovative treatment for heart attack patients.”

“We are delighted that Dr. Marbán is receiving CIRM funding to continue his groundbreaking translational science devoted to regenerating diseased myocardial tissue,” said Shlomo Melmed, M.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center vice president of academic affairs and dean of the medical faculty. “This award validates the leading role of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in developing cutting-edge treatments for heart disease.”

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine was established in November, 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at universities and research institutions.

The Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute is internationally recognized for outstanding heart care built on decades of innovation and research. From cardiac imaging and advanced diagnostics to surgical repair of complex heart problems to the training of the heart specialists of tomorrow and leading-edge research that is deepening medical knowledge and practice, the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute is known around the world for excellence and innovations.

Heart Attack - True Story

On New Years Eve Thursday December 31, 2009 at 10:30am I had a heart attack. More accurately I should say that I was having a heart attack on Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu.

I want to share with you some of my thoughts and hope that it prompts you to ACTION or possibly to better re-think how you approach life.

Reflecting back I had some clues to my heat attack, but I ignored them. First let me give you a brief background. I am a healthy male 54 years old and weigh 139 pounds. I am not overweight – smoke no - drink no – family history no – exercise --- could do more – healthy diet, low salt, low fat (maybe some cheese when I cook).

The clues, as I mentioned, on Monday I felt achy with no fever – I thought I had the flu or an infection in my lungs.

On Tuesday, I still didn't feel well and decided to go to a doctor. I was calling around to find a doctor that was in their office (By the way, I have been so healthy that my doctor had retired!) A doctor friend of mine said I should go to emergency. I had NO medical insurance and I didn't want to pay a huge medical bill. This was my FIRST CLUE – I had solid advice to go to Emergency and I ignored it. The SECOND CLUE on Tuesday was I felt something was wrong and I was panicked and scared --- Remember to always listen to your intuition, whether it is making a business decision or listening to your body for health reasons.

Now, I did go to Urgent Care on Tuesday --- but I was misdiagnosed and prescribed Amoxicillin for a general infection and ibuprofen.

Ok, so it is Wednesday and I am on medicine thinking that at some time I should start feeling better.

On Thursday I went to breakfast, went to the bank and stopped at Trader Joe's for a few groceries. By the time I got home, I felt worse and the pain had increased to about a 6 or 7 pain level (Standard Pain scale --- [0-no pain] to [10-Excruciating pain]).

I took more ibuprofen and within five minutes I was throwing up. By this time I realized something was wrong - still having no clue it was a heart attack.

My partner drove me to emergency at Cedars-Sinai (five minutes away). I walked in and was evaluated by a nurse and given a EKG - I still had no clue that I had a heart attack.

I was seen immediately by a doctor and had a heart monitor attached and chest xray. I thought I had the flu or a lung infection. The doctor said I had a heart attack and my response was, “REALLY?!”.

My partner was brought in, everything was explained and I was rushed upstairs to have a stent put in the LAD - Left Anterior Descending artery (stent - model Medtronic Driver RX).

By 1pm I was checked-in and stayed at the hospital til Tuesday January 5, 2010. During this time I was monitored --- blood draws every 8 hours to check my heart damage markers or cardiac enzymes, vital signs, and echocardiogram.

As explained by the doctor, my heart was "stunned" and there was no damage.

Ok, I am home and doing fine. Now the question is what can I do to help or inspire you? The signs for a heart attack can be so subtle. Some people have a LOT OF PAIN in their chest. Other people may feel they have indigestion. Each person is different AND the symptoms for woman are even more subtle. I am not a doctor and I am not here to give any medical advice.

Note: There will be more updates of my HEALTHY recovery after my heart attack. Please click-on the category HEART DISEASE to read all my updates. ~Wayne McDonald, age 54 and 136 pounds - healthy.