2. What are biomarkers?
Biomarkers are clinical laboratory test which is useful in
detecting dysfunction of an organ.
Biomarkers are often measured and evaluated using blood,
urine, or soft tissues to examine normal biological processes,
pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a
therapeutic intervention.
4. Myoglobin
• Iron and oxygen binding protein found in muscles (identical
to hemoglobin)
• Is raised after myocardial infarction; is not specific and is
raised in various other conditions including muscle injury
• Rises rapidly and falls earlier than CK-MB or troponins
• Negative value will exclude infarction
• Useful in early hours of chest pain
5. Troponin
• Specific markers for myocardial infarction
• not increased in muscle injury
• Troponin I and Troponin T are of importance
• Useful as a marker of any time interval after a heart attack
• High serum level useful for diagnosing MI, muscular dystrophies
Image credit, Sinai EM
8. Creatine Kinase
• Elevated in muscular dystrophies (500-1500 IU/L), CK-MM
• In crush injury, fractures and acute cerebrovascular accidents
• Associated with ATP regeneration from high energy phosphocreatine
in muscles
11. Aldolase
• Normal serum level is 1.5-7 U/L
• Markers of muscular dystrophies,
• Multiple sclerosis
• Progressive muscular degeneration
12. References
• Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students, DM Vasudevan
• Textbook of Biochemistry, Satyanarayana
• Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry