Comparison between quantitative and qualitative biochemical markers in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome

Abstract EN

Objectives : To compare between the qualitative estimation of biochemical markers Point-of-Care testing) with the quantitative estimation of the same markers in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Design : Case-series study.

Setting : This study was carried out in coronary care unit in Ibn- Sena Teaching Hospital in Mosul city from January to November, 2008.

Participant : Sixty five patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presented with chest pain.

Main outcome measures : Three cardiac markers (Creatine kinase (CK-MB) activities (marker of necrosis), myoglobin (marker of muscle injury), and troponin I (marker of necrosis), were estimated qualitatively (near the patient = Point-of-Care testing), and quantitatively, and the results were compared.

Kappa test was used for the association between the quantitative and qualitative test results.

Results : The case-series study showed correlation of attributes between qualitative estimation results of troponin I, myoglobin and CK-MB and quantitative estimation results of the same parameters in (88.9 %) tests.

Conclusion : The early diagnosis of ACS might be facilitated by the use of qualitative point-of-care testing based on CK-MB, troponin I and myoglobin tests.