The cardiac profile is a blood test that allows you to assess the work of the heart, for example in the case of suspected circulatory failure or after a myocardial infarction. They also allow you to assess the risk of a cheese attack or stroke. What are the indications for a cardiac profile? What are the standards? How to interpret the test results?

Cardiac profileare blood tests that allow you to assess the work of the heart. They consist of the assessment of the concentration of phosphocreatine kinase (CK), the so-called acute phase proteins (CRP), troponins, alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), electrolytes (Na, K), NT-ProBNP (N-terminal B-type natriuretic propeptide). The cardiac profile also includes a lipogram.

Cardiac profile - indications

The cardiac profile is recommended for people with suspected heart failure and cardiovascular failure, in the case of exacerbation of coronary disease and after myocardial infarction. Thanks to the heart profile, it is possible to recognize many heart diseases, as well as monitor their treatment and determine the patient's prognosis.

1. Creatine (phospho) kinase (CK, CPK)

Creatine kinase is an enzyme found mainly in the heart muscle. Its increased level indicates damage to the heart, which could have occurred as a result of a heart attack or inflammation. Decreased CK levels are not associated with heart disease.

2. The so-called acute phase protein (CRP, C-reactive protein)

CRP levels above 10 mg / L identify patients with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and death, while concentrations in the range of 3-10 mg / L are associated with an intermediate risk and higher rate of recurrence of cardiovascular events.

IMPORTANT! The CRP concentration allows you to assess the cardiovascular risk, provided that the test is performed in a period free from any disease causing an inflammatory response.

3. Troponiny

Troponins are proteins that are a component of myocytes, i.e. muscle cells (including the heart) and are necessary for their proper contraction. The assessment of their concentration is important in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (they are used to diagnose a recent myocardial infarction, including the so-called micro infarction) and in the assessment of myocardial damage in a mechanism other than ischemic (e.g. after treatment with cardiotoxic cytostatics, e.g.adriamycin).

In the case of cardiac troponins, even a slight increase in their concentration may indicate heart damage.

Important

Cardiac profile - norms

  • CK (phosphocreatine kinase) - for women 40-285 U / l; for men 55-370 U / l;
  • CRP (so-called acute phase protein) - 0.08 to 3.1 mg / l. In smokers, obese people, with arterial hypertension, it can be<10 mg/l;
  • troponin - low, almost zero concentration;
  • ALAT - 5-40 U / I (85-680 nmol / l);
  • AspAT - from 5 to 40 U / l
  • LDH lactate dehydrogenase - 120-230 U / l;
  • NT-proBNP - Aged<55 lat - 64 pg/ml dla mężczyzn i 155 pg/ml dla kobiet; w wieku 55-65 lat - 194 pg/ml dla mężczyzn, 222 pg/ml dla kobiet;
  • lipogram - total cholesterol - 200 mg% (5.2 mmol / l) or less; LDL cholesterol - less than 139 mg% (3.4 mmol / l); HDL cholesterol - more than 35 mg% (0.92 mmol / l); triglycerides - less than 200 mg% (2.3 mmol / l), preferably 50Ð180 mg%;
  • electrolytes - sodium: 135-145 mmol / l, potassium: 3.5-5 mmol / l;

4. Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT)

Alanine aminotransferase is an intracellular enzyme that enters the blood when cells (such as the heart) are damaged. The increase in activity in the range of 400-4000 U / l suggests circulatory failure, in the range of 200-400 U / l myocardial infarction.

5. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Aspartate aminotransferase, like alanine aminotransferase, is an intracellular enzyme whose presence in the blood may indicate heart damage. The cause of the increase in AST activity may be cardiac necrosis - myocardial infarction, traumatic damage to the heart, e.g. after cardiac surgery.

6. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)

It is an enzyme that occurs mainly in the heart muscle, as well as in skeletal muscle, liver, lungs, and kidneys. LDH readily passes into the blood serum when the cells die. The increase in concentration (400-2300 U / l) is observed in 12-24 hours. after a heart attack. Significant increases can be seen up to 10 days after part of the heart muscle has died.

7. NT-ProBNP

NT-proBNP (N-terminal B-type natriuretic propeptide) is one of the markers of cardiac volume overload. Increased levels of NT-proBNP are seen in heart failure, myocardial infarction, and hypertension.

8. Lipogram

Lipogram is a test that determines the level of lipids: total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, which is performed to assess the risk of coronary heart disease. They are reliable indicators of the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke caused by blocked blood vessels.

9. Electrolytes (sodium, potassium)

Thankspotassium activates an enzyme that provides the heart with energy, and thus stimulates it to work. During physical exercise, it increases heart contractions to better oxygenate the body. Besides, thanks to him, as well as magnesium and calcium, the heart beats regularly.

Sodium, on the other hand, works together with potassium. When the proportions between these elements are disturbed, potassium cannot fulfill its basic functions. Sodium also plays a very important role in controlling blood pressure.

Therefore, incorrect concentration of these elements may indicate a dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.

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