Share:
Timely heart attack diagnosis saves lives
If a heart attack is suspected, a quick diagnosis can save lives. Scientists at the University Heart Center (UZH) at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) have now developed a new diagnostic procedure that should clarify more quickly whether acute chest pain results from a heart attack or not.
The new diagnostic method has been tested on more than 1,000 patients, according to the UKE, and has "reduced the window of time for the definitive diagnosis and initiation of a life-saving therapy from three to one hour." This has also significantly reduced mortality. The study results were published in the journal "JAMA Cardiology".
If a heart attack is suspected, a quick and reliable diagnosis is urgently needed. Here a new diagnostic procedure developed at the UKE helps. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com) Precise testing procedures required
According to Professor Stefan Blankenberg, Director of the Clinic for General and Interventional Cardiology at the University Heart Center (UHZ), must "as soon as possible clarify in patients with chest pain and suspected heart attack whether further therapeutic measures must be initiated or whether they can safely be discharged back home "This requires" the most accurate, reliable and easy to use test procedures ". So far, the guidelines of the German Society of Cardiology in suspected heart attack see the measurement of troponin I values by means of a blood test immediately at admission of the patient and again after three hours.
Biomarker indicates damage to the heart muscle cells
Troponin I is a biomarker "that provides information about damage to the heart muscle cells," according to the UKE. However, those affected must "stay in hospital for at least three hours until the final diagnosis is made," explains Prof. Blankenberg. Troponin I values above 27 ng / L are considered increased according to the expert. To speed up the process, an alternative has been developed and tested at the UHZ in recent years. Dr. Dirk Westermann, Associate Professor at UHZ and leader of the so-called BACC study ("Biomarkers in Acute Cardiac Care"), emphasizes that this new, highly sensitive Troponin I test delivers much faster results and also discovers much lower troponin I levels, " but they are likely to play an important role in cardiovascular risk. "
New procedure tested on 1,040 patients
As part of the BACC study, the researchers tested their new diagnostic procedure on 1,040 patients, who were treated with acute chest pain and suspected cardiac arrest in the UKE casualty department at the age of 65 years. "Both the conventional three-hour waiting troponin I test and the new test procedure were performed," UKE reports. In 184 patients, a heart attack was diagnosed based on the standard procedure and further inpatient treatment was initiated. The remaining patients were discharged home. All patients were followed up for a further 12 months.
Faster and more reliable diagnosis
According to the UKE, when comparing the results of both tests, it became clear that "even a limit of only 6 ng / L troponin I, when taken and measured after one hour, would more reliably preclude myocardial infarction than the previously recommended 27 ng / L with repeat measurement after three hours. " According to Westermann, "the faster test and the lower limits could further increase the confidence that the right patients will be sent home." The new lower limit algorithm is based on data from two other large studies involving more than 4,000 patients acute chest pain and myocardial infarction suspected, reviewed and confirmed, reports the UKE. Professor Blankenberg concludes that the findings will influence a future revision of the guidelines for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. (Fp)