The role of the heart-type fatty acid binding protein in the early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and its comparison with troponin I and creatine kinase-MB isoform

Objectives: The aim of this study was to research the effectiveness of the heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in the early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients admitted to emergency service (ES) within 6 hours of onset of chest pain. Equipment and Method: A total of 83 patients admitted with chest pain to our ES were included in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with a diagnosed ACS and those diagnosed with non cardiac-related chest pain. Patients were also were divided into 2 groups according to the time of admission: those admitted within 0 to 3 hours and 3 to 6 hours of onset of chest pain. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from all patients for H-FABP, troponin I, and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) serum concentration measurements. Results: Of a total of 83 patients, 21.6% (n = 18) were in the control group and 78.3% (n = 65) were in the ACS group. The average H-FABP value for the patients in the control group was 0.86 +/- 0.54 ng/mL. When the ACS and control groups were compared in means of cardiac markers for CK-MB (P = .000) and H-FABP (P = .000), there was a statistically significant difference, whereas no difference was observed for troponin I (P = .013). In the ACS group, H-FABP sensitivity for diagnosis was found to be 98% and specificity was 71%; CK-MB sensitivity was 86% and specificity was 52%; and troponin 1 sensitivity was 77% and specificity was 20%. Conclusions: For patients admitted with chest pain to ES, H-FABP was found to be more sensitive and specific than troponin I and CK-MB in the early diagnosis of ACS. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.