Cardiac Function and its Laboratory Markers

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions from a lecture on cardiac function and laboratory markers.

Atherosclerosis

A chronic process involving damage to the endothelium and build-up of vessels occluding lesions known as plaques.

Angina Pectoris

Chest pain, a common symptom of atherosclerosis and potential ischemia.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Irreversible ischemic damage to the heart muscle due to complete blockage of blood flow, commonly known as a heart attack.

Heart Failure (HF)

Also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), it is a condition where the heart's ability to pump blood is compromised.

Cardiac Biomarkers

Protein molecules released into the bloodstream from damaged heart muscle, used for diagnosis and management of cardiac diseases.

SGOT (AST)

Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase or Aspartate aminotransferase, the first cardiac biomarker to be used extensively.

LD

Lactate dehydrogenase, a late cardiac marker that catalyzes the interconversion of lactic and pyruvic acids.

Creatine Kinase (CK)

An early cardiac marker that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate group between creatine phosphate and adenosine diphosphate.

Myoglobin

The earliest cardiac marker (but cardiac non-specific). It is a heme-containing protein that binds with oxygen and is cleared by renal filtration.

Troponins (TN)

Complex regulatory proteins that bind to the thin filaments of striated muscles, considered the most important cardiac biomarker for cardiac diagnosis.

Carbonic Anhydrase

An enzyme present in skeletal muscle (but not cardiac muscle). It can be used as a 'negative' cardiac marker.

Heart Fatty Acid Binding Protein (HFABP)

Low molecular weight protein, with characteristics similar to Myoglobin. Early marker of myocardial damage with same kinetic as myoglobin

Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA)

A variant form of albumin with reduced affinity for metal ions, arising from the interaction of albumin with free radicals at sites of tissue ischemia. Detects ischemia prior to irreversible cell damage

Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide

Released from the heart in response to increased pressure and volume load.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Sensitive marker of acute and chronic inflammation and infection, used as an early warning test for persons at risk of coronary artery disease (CHD).

Homocysteine (Hcy)

An amino acid. Excessive levels reflect deficiency of enzymes involved in metabolism