mi artcle jclinpath00262-0011

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Editorials group a t present, bu t with increasing understanding o f pathogenesis some will b e found t o have identifiable congenital o r acquired abnormalities of erythropoiesis." Some individuals with only mildly raised r e d cell mass probably represent a physiological extreme, while others m a y b e a t a n early stage of evolution into P V or some clearly recognisable secondary polycythaemia. Apparent polycythaemia syndrome, stress, pseudo o r relative polycythaemia) i s defined a s raised PC V and normal r e d cell mass. T h e aetiology i s imprecise a s i n idiopathic erythrocytosis. Approximately o n e third o f patients have a reduced plasma volume. Some are probably physiological variants showing a r e d cell mass near th e upper normal limit fo r that patient's height a n d weight combined with plasma volume near t he lower limit. Others m a y b e evolving into a n absolute polycythaemia with causes as previously described. I n t h e remainder, various associations have been observed, particularly with hyper- tension, obesity, smoking, a nd arterial hypoxaemia, a l - though th e mechanisms a r e y e t clear.'2 I n about o n e third of these patients, P C V tends t o revert t o normal over time. Ideally, individuals with apparent polycythaemia should undergo the rigorous investigation carried o u t in patients with absolute polycythaemia. I n practice, personal a n d financial considerations generally limit investigation o f patients with apparent polycythaemia t o a full blood count, biochemistry screen, arterial oxygen saturation, carbon monoxyhaemoglobin concentration, a nd a n abdominal ultrasound. MMESSINEZY T C PEARSON Division o f Haematology, UnitedMedical and Dental Schools, S t Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London S E 1 7EH, U K . 1 Pearson TC , Guthrie L , Simpson J , et al . Interpretation o f measured r e d cell mass an d plasmavolumes inadults. B r J Haematol 1995;89:748-56. 2 d e l a Chapelle A , Traskelin A-L, Juvonen E . Truncated erythropoietin receptor causes dominantly inherited benign human erythrocytosis. Proc Natl Acad 1993;90:4495-9. 3 Moore-Gillon J C , Treacher DF , Gaminara E J , e t a l. Intermittent hypoxia in patients with unexplained polycythaemia. B MJ 1986;293:588-90. 4 Messinezy M, Macdonald L M, Nunan TO, e t a l . Spleen sizing b y ultrasound i n polycythaemia an d thrombocythaemia: comparison with SPECT. BrJtHaematol 1997;98:103-7. 5 Birgegard G, Wide L. Serum erythropoietin i n thediagnosis o f polycythae- m i aa n d after phlebotomy treatment. BrJtHaematol 1992;81:603-6. 6 Pearson TC, Messinezy M. Th e diagnostic criteria of polycythaemia rubra vera. Leuk Lymphoma 1996;22(suppl 1):87-93. 7 Diez Martin JL, Graham D L , Petitt RM , e t a l . Chromosome studies in 1 0 4 patients with polycythemia vera. Mayo Clin Proc 1991;66:287-99. 8 Gale R E , Wainscoat J S . Clonal analysis using X-linked DNA polymor- phisms. BrJ3Haematol 1993;85:2-8. 9 Peterson P , Ellis J T . T h e bone marrow i n polycythemia vera. I n : Wasserman L R , Berk P D , BerlinNI, eds. Polycythaemia vera a n d t h e mCyeloproliferative disorders. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1995:31-53. 10 Reid CDL. T h e significance o f endogenous erythroid colonies (EEC) i n haematological disorders. Blood Re v 1987;1:133-40. 11 Messinezy M, Sawyer B, Westwood NB e t al . Idiopathic erythrocytosis- additional ne w study techniques suggest a heterogenous group. Eur3' Hae- matol 1994;53:163-7. 12 Pearson TC. Apparent polycythaemia. Blood R ev 1991;5:205-13. Early diagnosis o f myocardial infarction: w h y measure cardiac enzymes? A typical district general hospital will s e e approximately 5000 patients each year in whom a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome i s suspected. This will include n o t only patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) b u t also patients presenting with chest pain of unknown cause, sudden onset o f breathlessness, rhythm disturbance o r worsening ischaemic heart disease. I s rapid biochemical diagnosis required? T h e decision t o admit to hospital a n d whether t h e patient will b e placed i n t h e coronary care unit (CCU) o r a general ward/low dependency facility will depend o n t he initial clinical assessment plus electrocardiography (ECG). Both of these ar e known to b e imperfect approaches- 11.8% o f patients with A M I a r e sent home from t h e acci- dent and emergency department' nd patients without coronary artery disease inappropriately occupy 25% of CCU beds. postmortem examination a s gold standard, biochemical diagnosis of AMI h a s been shown t o b e superior t o ECG.2 Although t h e sensitivity of ECG i s only 75 % on presentation, S T segment elevation h a s 99.7% specificity f o r AMI, identifying t h e group that will have maximum benefit from thrombolytic treatment.3 ECG criteria can be used t o select f o r thrombolysis patients w h o present with S T segment elevation o r bundle branch block. Giving thrombolytic agents o n t h e basis of clinical features alone will confer n o benefit in t h e absence o f S T segment elevation a n d c a n result i n additional mor- bidity a nd mortality i n t h e patient both with a nd without ischaemic heart disease. F or example, dissecting aneurysm c a n present with chest pain a n d thrombolysis i n such cases h a s a spectacular effect o n outcome. Widespread u s e o f thrombolytic treatment i n t h e absence o f EC G data b paramedic staff cannot b e justified. Most cases do n o t have a clear c u t presentation. An audit o f cases presenting t o the Mayday Hospital (Thornton Heath, Surrey, U K ) w h o h a d cardiac enzyme analysis showed that (with diagnosis based o n WH O criteria f o r AMI) only 9.6% of presenting with chest pain h ad S T segment elevation o n presentation. On t h e basis of bio- chemical testing a further 2.4% were diagnosed with non-Q wave A M I a n d 7.8% had biochemical changes characteristic of myocardial damage. Sixty s i x p e r cent o f cases had a final diagnosis o f stable angina or non- ischaemic chest pain. Clearly t h e EC G is n o t a diagnostic b u t a management tool that should be used t o select patients f o r thrombolytic treatment. This constitutes t h e minority o f patients investi- gated. Most will require biochemical confirmation o r exclusion of AMI. Identification o f patients without ECG changes w h o have either a non-Q wave A M I o r unstable angina with minor myocardial damage i s important. These patients have a short term mortality that exceeds that of patients with Q wave AMI, a n d they require early interven- tion. T h e ECG h a s superior diagnostic sensitivity t o a l l currently available biochemical markers in samples taken o n admission.4 This i s because o f the kinetics o f release of biochemical markers from ischaemic tissue and t h e problem o f single measurement compared with a popula- tion based reference range. Early diagnosis of myocardial infarction c a n b e achieved b y serial measurement o f myoglobin,5 creatine kinase (CK)6 o r i t s MB isoenzyme (CK-MB).7 Diagnosis c a n b e complete within 24 hours o f presentation. B y using a combination o f a short time 2

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8/4/2019 MI Artcle Jclinpath00262-0011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mi-artcle-jclinpath00262-0011 1/3

E d i t o r i a l s

g r o u p a t p r e s e n t , b u t w i t h i n c r e a s i n g u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f

p a t h o g e n e s i s some w i l l b e f o u n d t o h a v e i d e n t i f i a b l ec o n g e n i t a l o r a c q u i r e d a b n or m a l i t i e s o f e r y t h r o p o i e s i s . "Some i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h o n l y m i l d l y r a i s e d r e d c e l l m a s s

p r o b a b l y r e p r e s e n t a p h y s i o l o g i c a l e x t r e m e , w h i l e o th er s

m ay b e a t a n e a r l y s t a g e o f e v o l u t i o n i n t o PV o r s o m e

c l e a r l y r e c o g n i s a b l e s e c o n d a r y p o l y c y t h a e m i a .

A p p a r e n t p o l y c y t h a e m i a ( G e i s b o c k ' s s y n d r o m e , s t r e s s ,

p s e u d o o r r e l a t i v e p o l y c y t h a e m i a ) i s d e f i n e d a s r a i s e d PCVa n d n o r m a l r e d c e l l m a s s . The a e t i o l o g y i s i m p r e c i s e a s i ni d i o p a t h i c e r y t h r o c y t o s i s . A p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e t h i r d o f

p a t i e n t s h a v e a r e d u c e d p l a s m a v o l u m e . Some a r e p r o b a b l y

p h y s i o l o g i c a l v a r i a n t s s h o w i n g a r e d c e l l m a s s n e a r t h eu p p e r n o r m a l l i m i t f o r t h a t p a t i e n t ' s h e i g h t a n d w e i g h t

c o m b i n e d w i t h p l a s m a v o l u m e n e a r t h e l o w e r l i m i t . O t h e r s

may b e e v o l v i n g i n t o a n a b s o l u t e p o l y c y t h a e m i a w i t h

c a u s e s a s p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d . I n t h e r e m a i n d e r , v a r i o u sa s s o c i a t i o n s h a v e b e e n o b s e r v e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h h y p e r -

t e n s i o n , o b e s i t y , s m o k i n g , a n d a r t e r i a l h y p o x a e m i a , a l -t h o u g h t h e m e c h a n i s m s a r e n o t y e t c l e a r . ' 2 I n a b o u t o n e

t h i r d o f t h e s e p a t i e n t s , PCV t e n d s t o r e v e r t t o n o r m a l o v e r

t i m e . I d e a l l y , i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h a p p a r e n t p o l y c y t h a e m i a

s h o u l d u n d e r g o t h e r i g o r o u s i n v e s t i g a t i o n c a r r i e d o u t i np a t i e n t s w i t h a b s o l u t e p o l y c y t h a e m i a . I n p r a c t i c e , p e r s o n a l

a n d f i n a n c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s g e n e r a l l y l i m i t i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f

p a t i e n t s w i t h a p p a r e n t p o l y c y t h a e m i a t o a f u l l b l o o d c o u n t ,

b i o c h e m i s t r y s c r e e n , a r t e r i a l o x y g e n s a t u r a t i o n , c a r b o n

m o n o x y h a e m o g l o b i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n , a n d a n a b d o m i n a lu l t r a s o u n d .

MMESSINEZYT C PEARSON

D i v i s i o n o f H a e m a t o l o g y , U n i t e d M e d i c a l a n d D e n t a l S c h o o l s ,S t T h o m a s ' s H o s p i t a l ,L a m b e t h P a l a c e R o a d , L o n d o n S E 1 7 E H , U K .

1 P e a r s o n TC, G u t h r i e DL, S i m p s o n J , e t a l . I n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f m e a s u r e d r e dc e l l m a s s a n d p l a s m a v o l u m e s i n a d u l t s . BrJ H a e m a t o l 1 9 9 5 ; 8 9 : 7 4 8 - 5 6 .

2 d e l a C h a p e l l e A , T r a s k e l i n A - L, J u v o n e n E . T r u n c a t e d e r y t h r o p o i e t i nr e c e p t o r c a u s e s d o m i n a n t l y i n h e r i t e d b e n i g n human e r y t h r o c y t o s i s . P r o cN a t l A c a d S c i 1 9 9 3 ; 9 0 : 4 4 9 5 - 9 .

3 M o o r e - G i l l o n J C , T r e a c h e r D F , G a m i n a r a E J , e t a l . I n t e r m i t t e n t h y p o x i a i np a t i e n t s w i t h u n e x p l a i n e d p o l y c y t h a e m i a . BMJ 1 9 8 6 ; 2 9 3 : 5 8 8 - 9 0 .

4 M e s s i n e z y M, M a c d o n a l d LM, Nunan T O , e t a l . S p l e e n s i z i n g b yu l t r a s o u n d i n p o l y c y t h a e m i a a n d t h r o m b o c y t ha e m i a : c o m p a r i s o n w i t hSPECT. B r J t H a e m a t o l 1 9 9 7 ; 9 8 : 1 0 3 - 7 .

5 B i r g e g a r d G , W i d e L . S e r u m e r y t h r o p o i e t i n i n t h e d i a g n o s i s o f p o l y c y t h a e -m i a a n d a f t e r p h l e b o t o m y t r e a t m e n t . B r J t H a e m a t o l 1 9 9 2 ; 8 1 : 6 0 3 - 6 .

6 P e a r s o n TC, M e s s i n e z y M. Th e d i a g n o s t i c c r i t e r i a o f p o l y c y t h a e m i a r u b r av e r a . L e u k L y m p h o m a 1 9 9 6 ; 2 2 ( s u p p l 1 ) : 8 7 - 9 3 .

7 D i e z M a r t i n J L , Graham D L , P e t i t t RM, e t a l . Chromosome s t u d i e s i n 1 0 4p a t i e n t s w i t h p o l y c y t h e m i a v e r a . Mayo C l i n P r o c 1 9 9 1 ; 6 6 : 2 8 7 - 9 9 .

8 G a l e R E , W a i n s c o a t J S . C l o n a l a n a l y s i s u s i n g X - l i n k e d DNA p o l y m o r -p h i s m s . B r J 3 H a e m a t o l 1 9 9 3 ; 8 5 : 2 - 8 .

9 P e t e r s o n P , E l l i s J T . The b o n e marrow i n p o l y c y t h e m i a v e r a . I n : W a s s e r m a nL R , B e r k P D , B e r l i n N I , e d s . P o l y c y t h a e m i a v e r a a n d t h e m C y e l o p r o l i f e r a t i v ed i s o r d e r s . P h i l a d e l p h i a : WB S a u n de r s , 1 9 9 5 : 3 1 - 5 3 .

1 0 R e i d CDL. The s i g n i f i c a n c e o f e n d o g e n o u s e r y t h r o i d c o l o n i e s ( E E C ) i nh a e m a t o l o g i c a l d i s o r d e r s . B l o o d R e v 1 9 8 7 ; 1 : 1 3 3 - 4 0 .

1 1 M e s s i n e z y M, S a w y e r B , W e s t w o o d NB , e t a l . I d i o p a t h i c e r y t h r o c y t o s i s -a d d i t i o n a l new s t u dy t e c hn i q ue s s u g g e s t a h e t e r o g e n o u s g r o u p . E u r 3 ' H a e -m a t o l 1 9 9 4 ; 5 3 : 1 6 3 - 7 .

1 2 P e a r s o n TC. A p p a r e n t p o l y c y t h a e m i a . B l o o d R e v 1 9 9 1 ; 5 : 2 0 5 - 1 3 .

E a r l y d i a g n o s i s o f m y o c a r d i a l i n f a r c t i o n : why measure c a r d i a c

e n z y m e s ?

A t y p i c a l d i s t r i c t g e n e r a l h o s p i t a l w i l l s e e a p p r o x i m a t e l y

5 0 0 0 p a t i e n t s e a c h y e a r i n w h o m a d i a g n o s i s o f a c u t e

c o r o n a r y s y n d r o m e i s s u s p e c t e d . T h i s w i l l i n c l u d e n o t o n l y

p a t i e n t s w i t h u n s t a b l e a n g i n a o r a c u t e m y o c a r d i a l

i n f a r c t i o n ( A M I ) b u t a l s o p a t i e n t s p r e s e n t i n g w i t h c h e s t

p a i n o f unknown c a u s e , s u d d e n o n s e t o f b r e a t h l e s s n e s s ,r h y t h m d i s t u r b a n c e o r w o r s e n i n g i s c h a e m i c h e a r t d i s e a s e .I s r a p i d b i o c h e m i c a l d i a g n o s i s r e q u i r e d ?

The d e c i s i o n t o a d m i t t o h o s p i t a l a n d w h e t h e r t h e

p a t i e n t w i l l b e p l a c e d i n t h e c o r o n a r y c a r e u n i t (CCU) o r ag e n e r a l w a r d / l o w d e p e n d e n c y f a c i l i t y w i l l d e p e n d o n t h e

i n i t i a l c l i n i c a l a s s e s s m e n t p l u s e l e c t r o c a r d i o g r a p h y ( E C G ) .

B o t h o f t h e s e a r e known t o b e i m p e r f e c t a p p r o a c h e s -1 1 . 8 % o f p a t i e n t s w i t h AMI a r e s e n t home f r o m t h e a c c i -d e n t a n d e m e r g e n c y d e p a r t m e n t ' a n d p a t i e n t s w i t h o u t

c o r o n a r y a r t e r y d i s e a s e i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y o c c u p y 25% o f

CCU b e d s . U s i n g p o s t m o r t e m e x a m i n a t i o n a s t h e g o l d

s t a n d a r d , b i o c h e m i c a l d i a g n o s i s o f AMI h a s b e e n s h o w n t ob e s u p e r i o r t o E C G . 2 A l t h o u g h t h e s e n s i t i v i t y o f ECG i s

o n l y 75% on p r e s e n t a t i o n , S T s e g m e n t e l e v a t i o n h a s

9 9 . 7 % s p e c i f i c i t y f o r AMI, i d e n t i f y i n g t h e g r o u p t h a t w i l lh a v e maximum b e n e f i t f r o m t h r o m b o l y t i c t r e a t m e n t . 3ECG c r i t e r i a c a n b e u s e d t o s e l e c t f o r t h r o m b o l y s i s

p a t i e n t s w ho p r e s e n t w i t h S T s e g m e n t e l e v a t i o n o r b u n d l eb r a n c h b l o c k . G i v i n g t h r o m b o l y t i c a g e n t s o n t h e b a s i s o f

c l i n i c a l f e a t u r e s a l o n e w i l l c o n f e r n o b e n e f i t i n t h e a b s e n c e

o f S T s e g m e n t e l e v a t i o n a n d c a n r e s u l t i n a d d i t i o n a l m o r -

b i d i t y a n d m o r t a l i t y i n t h e p a t i e n t b o t h w i t h a n d w i t h o u t

i s c h a e m i c h e a r t d i s e a s e . F o r e x a m p l e , d i s s e c t i n g a n e u r y s mc a n p r e s e n t w i t h c h e s t p a i n a n d t h r o m b o l y s i s i n s u c h c a s e s

h a s a s p e c t a c u l a r e f f e c t o n o u t c o m e . W i d e s p r e a d u s e o f

t h r o m b o l y t i c t r e a t m e n t i n t h e a b s e n c e o f ECG d a t a b yp a r a m e d i c s t a f f c a n n o t b e j u s t i f i e d .

M o s t c a s e s d o n o t h a v e a c l e a r c u t p r e s e n t a t i o n . An a u d i to f c a s e s p r e s e n t i n g t o t h e M a y d a y H o s p i t a l ( T h o r n t o nH e a t h , S u r r e y , UK) who h a d c a r d i a c e n z y m e a n a l y s i ss h o w e d t h a t ( w i t h d i a g n o s i s b a s e d o n WHO c r i t e r i a f o rAMI) o n l y 9 . 6 % o f p a t i e n t s p r e s e n t i n g w i t h c h e s t p a i n h a d

S T s e g m e n t e l e v a t i o n o n p r e s e n t a t i o n . On t h e b a s i s o f b i o -c h e m i c a l t e s t i n g a f u r t h e r 2 . 4 % w e r e d i a g n o s e d w i t h

n o n - Q w a v e AMI a n d 7 . 8 % h a d b i o c h e m i c a l c h a n g e s

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f m y o c a r d i a l d a m a g e . S i x t y s i x p e r c e n t o f

c a s e s h a d a f i n a l d i a g n o s i s o f s t a b l e a n g i n a o r n o n -

i s c h a e m i c c h e s t p a i n .C l e a r l y t h e ECG i s n o t a d i a g n o s t i c b u t a managementt o o l t h a t s h o ul d b e u s e d t o s e l e c t p a t i e n t s f o r t h r o m b o l y t i c

t r e a t m e n t . T h i s c o n s t i t u t e s t h e m i n o r i t y o f p a t i e n t s i n v e s t i -g a t e d . M o s t w i l l r e q u i r e b i o c h e m i c a l c o n f i r m a t i o n o r

e x c l u s i o n o f AMI. I d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f p a t i e n t s w i t h o u t ECG

c h a n g e s w h o h a v e e i t h e r a non-Q w a v e AMI o r u n s t a b l e

a n g i n a w i t h m i n o r m y o c a r d i a l d a m a g e i s i m p o r t a n t . T h e s e

p a t i e n t s h a v e a s h o r t t e r m m o r t a l i t y t h a t e x c e e d s t h a t o f

p a t i e n t s w i t h Q w a v e AMI, a n d t h e y r e q u i r e e a r l y i n t e r v e n -

t i o n . The ECG h a s s u p e r i o r d i a g n o s t i c s e n s i t i v i t y t o a l l

c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e b i o c h e m i c a l m a r k e r s i n s a m p l e s t a k e non a d m i s s i o n . 4 T h i s i s b e c a u s e o f t h e k i n e t i c s o f r e l e a s e o f

b i o c h e m i c a l m a r k e r s f r o m i s c h a e m i c t i s s u e a n d t h e

p r o b l e m o f s i n g l e m e a s u r e m e n t c o m p a r e d w i t h a p o p u l a -t i o n b a s e d r e f e r e n c e r a n g e . E a r l y d i a g n o s i s o f m y o c a r d i a li n f a r c t i o n c a n b e a c h i e v e d b y s e r i a l m e a s u r e m e n t o f

m y o g l o b i n , 5 c r e a t i n e k i n a s e ( C K ) 6 o r i t s MB i s o e n z y m e

( C K - M B ) . 7 D i a g n o s i s c a n b e c o m p l e t e w i t h i n 2 4 h o u r s o f

p r e s e n t a t i o n . B y u s i n g a c o m b i n a t i o n o f a s h o r t t i m e

2

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E d i t o r i a l s

w i n d o w m a r k e r p l u s a l o n g t i m e window m a r k e r , m e a s u r e d

s e r i a l l y i n t h e s a m e p a t i e n t , t h e d i a g n o s t i c t i m e window c a n

b e r e d u c e d t o a s l i t t l e a s f o u r h o u r s f r o m a d m i s s i o n . 8The s t r a t e g y i n t h e UK f o r b i o c h e m i c a l d i a g n o s i s i s u s u -

a l l y b a s e d a r o u n d a p r o t o c o l o f a c o m b i n a t i o n o f d a i l ym e a s u r e m e n t o f CK, a s p a r t a t e t r a n s a m i n a s e ( A S T ) , a n dl a c t a t e d e h y d r o g e n a s e ( L D H ) . The d i a g n o s t i c s u p e r i o r i t yo f CK-MB h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d b o t h b y c l i n i c a l s t u d i e s 9a n d r i g o r o u s s t a t i s t i c a l c o m p a r i s o n w i t h o t h e r m a r k e r s . 1 0 I t

i s c o n s i d e r e d t h e s t a n d a r d m a r k e r i n E u r o p e a n d N o r t h

A m e r i c a . The t e c h n o l o g y f o r r a p i d , a c c u r a t e , a n d p r e c i s em a s s m e a s u r e m e n t o f CK-MB i s a v a i l a b l e i n t h e UK a n d

i s t h e m e t h o d o f c h o i c e f o r c o n f i r m a t i o n o r e x c l us i o n o f

AMI b y c o n v e n t i o n a l c r i t e r i a . H o w e v e r , t h e c a r d i a ce n z y m e s t r a t e g y i n m o s t h o s p i t a l s i s b o t h d i a g n o s t i c a l l yi n a d e q u a t e a n d d o e s n o t p ro v i d e i n f o rm a t i o n w i t h i n a u s e -f u l t i m e f r a m e f o r m e d i c a l d e c i s i o n m a k i n g . Tw o o t h e r f a c -t o r s c o m b i n e t o make t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n u n a c c e p t a b l e .

The f i r s t i s t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a s s a y s f o r t h e c a r d i a cs p e c i f i c m a r k e r p r o t e i n s t r o p o n i n T a n d t r o p o n i n I . T h e s em a r k e r s a r e 100% s e n s i t i v e a n d s p e c i f i c f o r c a r d i a cd a m a g e . T h e y a l l o w p r o g n o s t i c r i s k s t r a t i f i c a t i o n f o rp a t i e n t s w i t h a d i a g n o s i s o f AMI a n d u n s t a b l e a n g i n a . Thei n f o r m a t i o n c a n n o t b e o b t a i n e d f r o m CK-MB m e a s u r e -m e n t o r E C G . " 1 - 3 The c a r d i a c s p e c i f i c m a r k e r s t r o p o n i n Ta n d t r o p o n i n I w i l l r e p l a c e CK-MB a s t h e y a l l o w d i a g n o s i st o b e c o m p l e t e w i t h i n 1 2 h o u r s o f a d m i s s io n , a r e m o r es e n s i t i v e a n d s p e c i f i c , a n d h a v e p r o g n o s t i c v a l u e . T h e y w i l lb e c o m e t h e g ol d s t a n d a r d f o r d i a g n o s i s . ' 4

The s e c o n d i s t h e e v o l ut i o n o f p o i n t o f c a r e t e s t i n g( P O C T ) . R a p i d q u a n t i t a t i v e a n a l y s i s o f CK c a n b e

p e r f o r m e d r e l i a b l y o n w h o l e b l o o d u s i n g s m a l l b e n c h - t o p

a n a l y s e r s . POCT d e v i c e s a r e c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e f o r t h ed e te c t i on o f m y o g l o b i n , CK-MB, t r o p o n i n T , a n d t r o p o n i n

I . T h e s e d e v i c e s c a n b e u s e d i n t h e e m e r g e n c y d e p a r t m e n t

o r t h e CCU t o p r o d u c e r e s u l t s w i t h i n 2 0 m i n u t e s f r o m f i r s t

b l o o d s a m p l i n g . A l t h o u g h t h e s e d e v i c e s a r e c u r r e n t l ys e m i q u a l i t a t i v e , q u a n t i t a t i v e a n a l y s i s o f c a r d i a c m a r k e r s

w i t h m e a s u r e m e n t o n w h o l e b l o o d i s a l r e a d y u n d e r g o i n g

c l i n i c a l t r i a l s .

The r a pi d p r ov i s i on o f a n a c c u r a t e b i o c h e m i c a l d i a g n o -

s i s i s n o t r e q u i r e d f o r p a t i e n t s w i t h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c ECGc h a n g e s , b u t i s n e e d e d t o p r e v e n t i n a p p ro p ri a t e d i s c h a r ge

o f t h o s e w i t h c a r d i a c d a m a g e , a n d t o e x p e d i t e t h e

d i s c h a r g e o f t h o s e w i t h o u t a c t i v e i s c h a e m i c h e a r t d i s e a s e .T h u s , d e c i s i o n m a k i n g w i l l i n i t i a l l y d i v i d e p a t i e n t s i n t ot h o s e w i t h a n d w i t h o u t S T s e g m e n t e l e v a t i o n . The f o r m e r

r e q u i r e t h r o m b o l y s i s a n d a d m i s s i o n t o t h e CCU. T h o s ew i t h o u t S T s e g m e n t e l e v a t i o n c a n b e a s s e s s e d r a p i d l y b y

b i o c h e m i c a l t e s t i n g t o c o n f i r m o r e x c l u d e AMI a n d f o r

r i s k s t r a t i f i c a t i o n . T h i s w i l l r e q u i r e m e a s u r e m e n t o f ar a p i d m a r k e r , s u c h a s m y o g l o b i n , a n d a t r o p o n i n . Thes p e e d w i t h w h i c h b o t h POCT a n d l a b o r a t o r y i n s t r u m e n -

t a t i o n c a n p r o v i d e a c c u r a t e d i a g n o s i s ( w i t h i n 2 0 m i n u t e s )

w i l l mean t h e s e d a t a c a n b e u s e d t o g u i d e m a n a g e m e n td e c i s i o n s . The c h e s t p a i n e v a l u a t i o n u n i t , ' 5 u s i n g r a p i d

s e r i a l e n z y m e m e a s u r e m e n t r e d u c e s b o t h t h e n e e d f o ru n n e c e s s a r y a d m i s s i o n s a n d t h e number o f p a t i e n t s w i t h

AMI i n c o r r e c t l y d i s c h a rg e d . I n t h e CCU, r a p i d e n z y m em e a s u r e m e n t a l l o w s e a r l y d i s c h a r ge o f p a t i e n t s w i t h o u tA M I . 6 The s p e e d o f p ro v i s i on o f d i a g n o s t i c i n f o r m a t i o n

c a n i n f l u e n c e s u b s e q u e n t m a n a g e m e n t , a l t e r i n g l e n g t h o f

s t a y a n d h e n c e p a t i e n t e p i s o d e c o s t . 6 1 6 The c u r r e n t

c o n c e p t o f a d m i t t i n g a l l p a t i e n t s w i th s u s p e c t e d AMI t o

t h e CCU o r h o s p i t a l f o l l o w e d b y a w a i t o f t w o t o t h r e ed a y s f o r e n z y m e a n a l y s i s c a n n o t b e s u s t a i n e d b e c a u s e o f

t h e e c o n o m i c c o s t o f i n a p p r o p r i a t e a d m i s s i o n s a n d t h el e n g t h o f h o s p i t a l s t a y b e f o r e d i a g n o s i s i s c o n f i r m e d o r

e x c l u d e d . The d i a g n o s t i c s u p e r i o r i t y o f t r o p o n i n T a n d I

m e a s u r e m e n t m e a n s t h a t t h e s e m a r k e r s s h o u l d r e p l a c e

e x i s t i n g s t r a t e g i e s . A s i n g l e t r o p o n i n m e a s u r e m e n t 1 2

h o u r s f r o m a d m i s s i o n h a s 100% s e n s i t i v i t y a n d s p e c i f i c i t yf o r AMI. T r o p o n i n s i d e n t i f y a t r i s k p a t i e n t s m i s s e d b yc o n v e n t i o n a l m a r k e r s , a n d t r o p o n i n m e a s u r e m e n t c a n b e

c o m b i n e d w i t h ECG t o s t r a t i f y p a t i e n t s a c c o r d i n g t o

o u t c o m e ,1

2 " ' 7 h e n c e i d e n t i f y i n g p a t i e n t s f o r e a r l y d i s -c h a r g e o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n .

The i s s u e i s o n e o f c o s t . The t o t a l c o s t o f t r o p o n i nm e a s u r e m e n t i s £ 4 . 5 0 t o £ 7 . 5 0 , s i m i l a r t o CK-MB m a s sb u t t w i c e t h e p r i c e o f t h r e e CK m e a s u r e m e n t s ( £ 3 . 3 0 i no u r l a b o r a t o r y ) . H o w e v e r , a s a CCU b e d c o s t s £ 4 0 5 / d a y ,a n d a m e d i c a l b e d c o s t s £ 18 3 / d a y , a n y r e d u c t i o n i n l e n g t h

o f s t a y w i l l r a p i d l y r e p a y t h e a d d i t i o n a l a n a l y t i c a l c o s t ,w h i l e t h e r e i s a q u a l i t y b e n e f i t f r o m d i a g n o s i s o f h i g h r i s kp a t i e n t s . 1

The i s s u e o f w h i c h t r o p o n i n i s b e t t e r c a n b e d e b a t e d ' 9w i t h a r g u m e n t s o v e r s p e c i f i c i t y i n r e n a l f a i l u r e . 2 0 2 1

T r o p o n i n T h a s b e e n m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y c l i n i c a l l y v a l i d a t e dw h i l e d i r e c t c o m p a r i s o n o f t r o p i n i n T a n d I s u g g e s t s t h a tt r o p o n i n T i s t h e m o r e s e n s i t i v e i n t h e c a r d i a c g r o u p , t h ec l i n i c a l l y m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t g r o u p o f p a t i e n t s . 2 2 2 3

I n c o n c l u s i o n , c a r d i a c e n z y m e s a r e i n t e g r a l t o t h e d i a g -n o s i s a n d m a n a g e m e n t o f p a t i e n t s i n w h o m a c u t e c o r o n a r ys y n d r o m e s a r e s u s p e c t e d . T h e y a r e n o t n e e d e d t o d i a g n o s e

t h e m i n o r i t y , who p r e s e n t w i t h S T s e g m e n t e l e v a t i o n , b u tt h e y a r e e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e e a r l y d i f f e r e n t i a l d i a g n o s i s o f t h os e

a t h i g h e s t a n d l o w e s t r i s k . T h e s e p a t i e n t s c a n b e d i a g n o s e db y b i o c h e m i c a l t e s t s a l o n e , t o e x p e d i t e m a n a g e m e n t d e c i -s i o n s . C a r d i a c t r o p o n i n m e a s u r e m e n t i s t h e m o s t c l i n i c a l l ye f f e c t i v e t e s t , o f f e r i n g p r o g n o s t i c i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h ec l i n i c i a n u n a v a i l a b l e b y o t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , a n d s h o u l d b ep a r t o f t h e modern t e s t i n g s t r a t e g y . The r o l e o f b i o c h e m i -c a l t e s t i n g i s a s p a r t o f a s t r u c t u r e d d e c i s i o n m a k i n g p r o t o -

c o l p r o v i d i n g a c c u r a t e a n d t i m e l y i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t c a n b eu s e d t o g u i d e p a t i e n t m a n a g e m e n t .

I f t h e t e s t r e s u l t s a r e n o t u s e d , t h e n b i o c h e m i c a l t e s t i n gb e c o m e s a n i r r e l e v a n c e . The c u r r e n t a n t e d i l u v i a n p r a c t i c eo f o f f e r i n g d a i l y m e a s u r e m e n t s o f CK, A S T , a n d LDHs e r v e s o n l y t o p r o v i d e a p o s t s c r i p t t o t h e d i s c h a r g esummary o r d e a t h , w h i c h e v e r c o m e s f i r s t , a n d s h o u l d b ea b a n d o n e d i n f a v o u r o f a n i n t e g r a t e d a p p r o a c h u s i n g o u t -

come r e l a t e d t e s t s ( t r o p o n i n T o r I ) t o a l t e r p a t i e n tm a n a g e m e n t d i r e c t l y . T h e r e a r e f i n a n c i a l b e n e f i t s i n t e r m so f r e d u c t i o n o f p a t i e n t e p i s o d e c o s t w h i l e a c c u r a t e d i a g n o -s i s f r o m modern t e s t s w i l l a i d p r o g n o s t i c d e c i s i o n m a k i n g .C o n v e r t i n g t h i s i n t o r o u t i n e c l i n i c a l p r a c t i c e i s t h ec h a l l e n g e b o t h f o r t h e l a b o r a t o r y a n d t h e c l i n i c i a n .

P 0 COLLINSONC o n s u l t a n t C h e m i c a l P a t h o l o g i s t ,Mayday H o s p i t a l ,

L o n d o n R o a d ,T h o r n t o n H e a t h , S u r r e y CR7 7 Y E , UKe m a i l : p o c t r o p @ p o c t r o p . d e m o n . c o . u k

1 E m e r s o n P A , R u s s e l N J , W y a t t J , e t a l . An a u d i t o f d o c t o r s m a n a g e m e n t o fp a t i e n t s w i t h c h e s t p a i n i n t h e a c c i d e n t a n d e m e r g e n c y d e p a r t m e n t . Q u a r t

J 7 M e d 1 9 8 9 ; 7 0 : 2 1 3 - 2 0 .2 McQueen M J , H o l d e r D , E l - M a r a g h i N . A s s e s s m e n t o f t h e a c c u r a c y o f

s e r i a l e l e c t r o c a r d i o g r a p h y i n t h e d i a g n o s i s o f a c u t e m y o c a r d i a l i n f a r c t i o n .Am H e a r t J 7 1 9 8 3 ; 1 0 5 : 2 5 8 - 6 1 .

3 F i b r i n o l y t i c T h e r a p y T r i a l i s t s ' C o l l a b o r a t i v e G r o u p . I n d i c a t i o n s f o r f i b r i n o -l y t i c t h e r a p y i n s u s p e c t e d a c u t e m y o c a r d i a l i n f a r c t i o n : c o l l a b o r a t i v eo v e r v i e w o f e a r l y m o r t a l i t y a n d m a j o r m o r b i d i t y r e s u l t s f r o m a l lr a n d o m i s e d t r i a l s o f m o r e t h a n 1 0 0 0 p a t i e n t s . L a n c e t 1 9 9 4 ; 3 4 3 : 3 1 1 - 2 2 .

4 B a k k e r A J , K o e l e m a y M J , G o r g e l s J P , e t a l . F a i l u r e o f ne w b i o c h e m i c a lm a r k e r s t o e x c l u d e a c u t e m y o c a r d i a l i n f a r c t i o n a t a d m i s si o n . L a n c et 1 9 9 6 ;3 4 2 : 1 2 2 0 - 2 .

5 L i n d a h l B , V e n g e P , W a l l e n t i n L . E a r l y d i a g n o s i s a n d e x c l u s i o n o f a c u t em y o c a r d i a l i n f a r c t i o n u s i n g b i o c h e m i c a l m o n i t o r i n g . C o r o n A r t e r y D i s1 9 9 5 ; 6 : 3 2 1 - 8 .

6 C o l l i n s o n P O , Ra mhama d amy EM, S t u b b s P J , e t a l . R a p i d d i a g n o s i s o fp a t i e n t s w i th a c ut e c h e s t p a i n r e d u c e s p a t i e n t s t a y i n t h e c o r o n a r y c a r e u n i t .An n C l i n B i o c h e m 1 9 9 3 ; 3 0 : 1 7 - 2 2 .

7 C o l l i n s o n P O , R o s a l k i S B , Kuwana T , e t a l . E a r l y d i a g n o s i s o f a c u t e m y o c a r -d i a l i n f a r c t i o n b y CK-MB m a s s m e a s u r e m e n t s . Ann C l i n B i o c h e m 1 9 9 2 ; 2 9 :4 3 - 7 .

8 C o l l i n s o n P O , S t u b b s P J . 4 h o u r " r u l e - i n " d i a g n o s i s o f a c u t e m y o c a r d i a l i n f -a r c t i o n f o r e a r l y r i s k s t r a t i f i c a t i o n b y c r e a t i n e k i n a s e i n c r e m e n t ( C Kc h a n g e ) . An n C l i n B i o c h e m 1 9 9 6 ; 3 3 : 3 0 8 - 1 3 .

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9 L e e TH, Gol dma n L . Serum enzyme assays i n t h e d i a g n o s i s o f acute myo-

c a r d i a l i n f a r c t i o n . An n I n t e r n Me d 1 9 8 6 ; 1 0 5 : 2 2 1 - 3 3 .1 0 Leung F Y , G a l b r a i t h L V , J a b l o n s k y G , e t a l . R e - e v al u a t io n o f t h e d i a gn o s t ic

u t i l i t y o f serum t o t a l c r e a t i n e k i n a s e a n d c r e a t i n e k i n a s e - 2 i n m y o c a r d i a li n f a r c t i o n . C l i n Chem 1 9 8 9 ; 3 5 : 1 4 3 5 - 4 0 .

1 1 S t u b b s P , C o l l i n s o n P , M o s e l e y D , e t a l . P r o s p e c t i v e s t u d y o f t h e r o l e o f c a r-

d i a c t r o p o n i n T in p a t i e n t s a d m i t t e d w i t h u n s t a b l e a n g i n a . BM3t 1 9 9 6 ; 3 1 3 :2 6 2 - 4 .

1 2 S t u b b s P J , C o l l i n s o n P O , M o s e l e y D , e t a l . P r o g n o s t i c s i g n i f i c a n c e o f a d m i s -s i o n t r o p o n i n T c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n p a t i e n t s w i t h m y o c a r d i a l i n f a r c t i o n . C i r -c u l a t i o n 1 9 9 6 ; 9 4 : 1 2 9 1 - 7 .

1 3 Antman EM, T a n a s i j e e v i c M J , T h ompson B , e t a l . C a r d i a cs p e c i f i c

t r o p o n i nI l e v e l s t o p re d ic t t h e r i s k o f m o r t a l i t y i n p a t i e n t s w i t h acute c o r o n a r y syn -

d r o m e s . N E n g 1 Me d 1 9 9 6; 3 3 5 : 1 3 42 - 9 .1 4 R y a n T J , A n d e r s o n J L , Antman EM , e t a l . ACC/AHA G u i d e l i n e s f o r t h e

management o f p a t i e n t s w i t h acute m y o c a r d i a l i n f a r c t i o n . C i r c u l a t i o n 1 9 9 6 ;9 4 : 2 3 4 1 - 5 0 .

1 5 H e d g e s J R , G i b l e r WB , Young G , e t a l . M u l t i c e n t e r s t u d y o f c r e a t i n ek i n a s e - M B use: e f f e c t on c h e s t p a i n c l i n i c a l d e c i s i o n m a k i n g . A c a d E m e r gMe d 1 9 9 6 ; 3 : 7 - 1 5 .

1 6 H e d g e s J R . C a r d i a c enzyme a v a i l a b i l i t v a n d h o s p i t a l l e n g t h o f s t a y . C l i nChem 1 9 9 7 ; 4 3 : 2 4 9 - 5 0 .

1 7 L i n d a h l B , A n d r e n B , O h l s s o n J , e t a l . R i s k s t r a t i f i c a t i o n i n u n s t a b l e

coronary artery d i s e a s e . A d d i t i v e v a l u e o f t r op on i n d e t e r m i n a ti o n s a n dp r e - d i s c h a r g e s t r e s s t e s t s . E u r H e a r t 3 r 1 9 9 7 ; 1 8 : 7 6 2 - 7 0 .

1 8 C o l l i n s o n P O . C o s t e c o n o m i c s o f new c a r d i a c mar ker s-CK-MB a n dc a r d i a c t r o p o n i n s . I n : K a s k i C J , H o l t D , e d s . M y o c a r d i a l d a n m a g e : e a r l y d e t e c -t i o n b y n o v e l b i o c h e n m i c a l m a r k e r s . A m s t e r d a m : K l u w e r A c a d e m i c P u b l i s h e r s .

[ I n p r e s s . ]1 9 C o l l i n s o n P O . To T o r no t t o T , t h a t is t h e q u e s t i o n . C l i n C h e n m

1 9 9 7 ; 4 3 : 4 2 1 - 3 .

2 0 H a l l e r C , Z e h e l e i n J , R e m p p i s A , e t a l . C a r d i a c t r o p o n i n T i n p a t i e n t s w i t h

r e n a l f a i l u r e [ a b s t r a c t ] . _Am C o l l C a r d i o l 1 9 9 7 ; 2 9 ( s u p p l ) : 2 3 4 A .2 1 McLaurin MD , A p p l e F S , V o s s EM, e t a l . C a r d i a c t r o p o n i n I , c a r d i a c

t r o p o n i n T a n d c r e a t i n e k i n a s e MB i n d i a l y s i s p a t i e n t s w i t h ou t i s c h ae m i c

h e a r t d i s ea s e C l i n Chem 1 9 9 7 ; 4 3 : 9 7 6 - 8 2 .

2 2 C h r i s t e n s e n R , D u h S H , Newby K , e t a l . C a r d i a c t r o p o n i n T a n d c a r d i a c

troponin I : r e l a t i v e v a l u e s i n s h o r t t erm r i s k s t r a t i f i c a t i o n o f p a t i e n t s w i t h

acute c o r o n a r y s y n d r o m e s . C l i n C h e n i . [ I n p r e s s . ]2 3 L i n d a h l B , V e n g e P L , W a l l e n t i n L . C o m p a r i s o n o f troponin T a n d troponin

I f o r p r e d i c t i o n o f m o r t a l i t y i n u n s t a b l e c o r o n a r y a r t e r y d i s e a s e [ a b s t r a c t ] .E u r H e a r t 1 9 9 7 ; 1 8 ( s u p p l ) : 1 2 3 .

4