H-FABP as a diagnostic marker for early detection of young myocardial infarction among Indians

It is of interest to document the point-of-care test using heart-type fatty-acid binding protein (H-FABP) in comparison with CK-MB, Troponin T and hsCRP. This is a more sensitive and specific cardiac biomarker than cTnT and CK-MB, and it has a higher diagnostic effectiveness for detecting early acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The case-control study enrolled 220 participants (110 myocardial infarction patients as cases and 110 healthy subjects as control) > 18 years of either sex after ethical clearance and informed consent form. The study conducted was conducted in the OPD and IPD of Medicine and Biochemistry Department at Moti Lal Nehru Medical College and Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh; Index Medical College & Hospital, Malwanchal University, India. The amount of H-FABP, CKMB and cTnT was measured using the Sandwich ELISA method and hs-CRP was evaluated using the immune-turbidimetry method. H-FABP correlation with selected markers (CK-MB, hs CRP and TnT) and CK-MB was significant. A positive correlation (r=0.2 to 0.29) was found when H-FABP was compared with CK-MB (p<0.05). Similar positive correlation was found in CK-MB with cTnT. H-FABP is a useful cardiac marker for the early diagnosis of young AMI and thus prediction of myocardial injury is possible. H-FABP compared with CK-MB showed positive correlation. CK-MB with cTnT also showed statistically significant relation. Thus, H-FABP and CK-MB, as well as the correlation between CK-MB and TnT, reflects utility in early-stage diagnosis of myocardial injury.