You or your loved one received a laboratory test result with heart biomarkers and need clarification about what it means.
Every cell and every organ releases unique markers under normal and abnormal physiological conditions. The heart is no exception.
Under stress, the heart, dependent on the heart condition, will release abnormal concentrations of different proteins into the bloodstream. An accredited laboratory assesses the concentration of these biomarkers.
Medical laboratory service providers. We hate them, and we love them. Laboratory tests are costly. However, they provide invaluable information to your doctor about your general health to help in your diagnosis and prognosis.
As a medical-biological scientist who worked at a routine laboratory for many years, I understand the significance of each heart biomarker. I’m here to share this knowledge with you in simple terms.
The Fundamental Cause of a Heart Attack
A heart attack (medically known as a Myocardial infarction) happens when blood flow is restricted, for whatever reason, to one or more of the arteries.
If there is no blood flow, then no oxygen cannot be delivered to the heart tissues, which will cause the heart injury.
When the heart muscle cells undergo injury, they release proteins into the blood, which can be measured with a blood test.
The Most Commonly Requested Heart Biomarkers
- Troponin
Any increase in Troponin levels is concerning, and the patient will need immediate care. There are three types of Troponin proteins: I, T and C. These proteins have a structural role in the highly organised heart muscle tissue. They are only found in the heart muscle. Therefore, it is specific to the heart and becoming the biomarker of choice.
- CKMB
This biomarker stands for creatine kinase myocardial band. Creatine kinase is also present in skeletal muscle (CKMM) and the brain and nervous tissue (CKBB). CKMB is, however, highly specific to heart muscle tissue and is elevated when the heart is injured.
- Myoglobin
Myoglobin is an early indicator as it is the first biomarker that goes up during the onset of a heart attack. It can be detected in the blood within two hours. However, myoglobin is not heart muscle-specific; it can also be elevated when there is injury to skeletal muscle.
ProBNP – What the Heck is This? Is it One of the Heart Biomarkers?
ProBNP stands for Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide. A natural tongue twister!
Your first question might be? How is a “brain something” a heart biomarker? This protein was initially found in pigs’ brains, and only later, it was also found in heart tissue.
Next, I need to break down the medical term natriuretic, which means loss of sodium ions (Na) through the urine (uretic).
While Trop-T, CKMB and Myoglobin are common biomarkers in diagnosing and monitoring a heart attack, ProBNP is used to analyse the extent of heart failure.
During a heart attack, the blood supply to the heart is lost, whereas during heart failure, the heart cannot pump blood around the body as expected.
When the heart fails to pump blood around the body efficiently, excess fluid will accumulate in the blood vessels, causing the heart to stretch. In response to this fluid volume increase, hormones, including ProBNP, are secreted.
ProBNP encourages the removal of sodium ions from the blood. Sodium is a salt, and therefore, water follows sodium. Both sodium and water are lost in the urine, causing the excess fluid around the heart to decrease.
The cycle continues for as long as the heart fails to work correctly, making proBNB a vital biomarker of heart failure conditions.
Conclusion: Why Should You Know About Heart Biomarkers?
Let’s hope you or your loved ones never have to look at any heart biomarkers this blog explains.
But everyone should know about heart biomarkers, also known as cardiac markers, because “knowledge is power”.
If you’ve read this far, you should feel empowered that your knowledge of heart-issue diagnosis is broader than ever.