Thursday, December 29, 2011

New Blood Test Can Detect Heart Attacks Faster

News Health Articles - New Blood Test Can Detect Heart Attacks Faster. A new blood test can measure levels of troponin I in the blood. Measurement of troponin I levels can help determine which patients actually had a heart attack earlier than diagnostic tests used so far.

Troponin I is a protein released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle has been damaged, such as during a heart attack. If there is damage to the heart, then it will be more troponin in the blood.



There are tests to measure troponin T or troponin I. New studies have been conducted to see what kind of highly sensitive troponin tests which may be more accurate in quick time. The results of these studies have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association December 28, 2011 edition.

Researchers led by Dr Till Keller at the University Heart Center, Hamburg, Germany, comparing the new troponin test is very sensitive to the current test and other blood tests for heart attack.

The study has involved a number of 1818 people who showed symptoms of a heart attack. Of these, 413 people considered to have a heart attack. Results showed that, troponin test is more predictive than other biomarkers are used to make the diagnosis.

The new test is more sensitive than had been there all along. This means that if the test result is negative, the patient is not experiencing a heart attack.

The problem with troponin testing found is that the tests should be repeated two more times over the next 12-16 hours for accurate readings. The new test provides results that are sensitive after 3 hours.

"We can rule out the diagnosis of heart attack more quickly with new tests. If the patient was taken to the emergency room less than 3 hours after experiencing symptoms of chest pain, then it can make the diagnosis of heart attack," said Dr. Sandra Chaparro, a cardiologist at the University of Miami Hospital, as reported from MSNHealth Fla., Wednesday (12/28/2011).

Many people come to the emergency room complaining of chest pain. Usually, the doctor will perform the examination procedure electrocardiogram (ECG) to check for problems with the heart's electrical activity, along with blood work.

Not all abnormal ECG readings during a heart attack. So they are a good reason why the new blood test must be used.

"The new blood test will be very useful for diagnosing heart attacks in people who were taken to the emergency room with complaints of chest pain, but the results of an EKG showed negative results. A more sensitive test can save a lot of money," said Dr. Chaparro

Its main purpose is to test a very specific and sensitive who can tell the doctor immediately to diagnose heart attacks in patients.

"We need a blood test to be able to quickly diagnose and inform patients when they are experiencing growth that leads to heart attacks. As more quickly diagnose, the faster it will perform the most appropriate therapy," said Dr. Michael Lanigan, a physician at SUNY Downstate Medical Center , Brooklyn, New York.

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