-
We provide our users the most up-to-date and accurate information on the treatment and prevention of cardio pathologies in accordance with current American and European clinical guidelines.
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment.
CK-MB and Troponin: Understanding Cardiac Biomarkers
Introduction
Cardiac biomarkers are molecules released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is damaged. Two of the most important biomarkers used for diagnosing heart attacks (myocardial infarction) are creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and troponin.
What is CK-MB?
CK-MB is a specific enzyme found in heart muscle cells. When the heart is damaged, CK-MB levels rise quickly but also return to normal within 48–72 hours.
Key Features of CK-MB:
- Rises: Within 3–6 hours after heart damage.
- Peaks: Around 12–24 hours.
- Returns to normal: Within 2–3 days.
- Used for: Detecting reinfarction (a second heart attack shortly after the first).
What is Troponin?
Troponins (Troponin I and Troponin T) are proteins crucial for muscle contraction. They are highly specific to heart muscle damage and provide a reliable marker for diagnosing heart attacks.
Key Features of Troponin:
- Rises: Within 3–6 hours after heart damage.
- Peaks: Around 12–48 hours.
- Returns to normal: Can take 7–14 days.
- Used for: Early and late detection of heart attacks.
CK-MB vs. Troponin: Which is Better?
Modern guidelines recommend troponin as the preferred biomarker for heart attack diagnosis because it is more specific and remains elevated longer, which makes it easier to detect heart damage. CK-MB is still sometimes used in specific cases like reinfarction.
Conclusion
If you experience chest pain, your doctor may order blood tests for troponin and sometimes CK-MB to assess heart damage. Troponin is the gold standard, while CK-MB helps in certain cases.
Related Guidelines
- High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays are recommended in the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines and American Heart Association Guidelines for Myocardial Infarction Diagnosis.
Source recommendations
1. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on the management of acute coronary syndromes
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Acute-Coronary-Syndromes-ACS-Guidelines
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/38/3720/7243210
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37622654/
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/42/14/1289/5898842
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21873419/
2. American Heart Association Guidelines for Myocardial Infarction Diagnosis
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/about-heart-attacks
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01.cir.94.9.2341
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/cir.0000000000001030
- https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/2022-acc-aha-key-data-elements-and-definitions-for-chest-pain-and-acute-myocardial-infarction
-
If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor in time. Remember that self-medication can be dangerous, and timely diagnosis will preserve the quality and life expectancy.
The heart is an organ that does not know how to "keep silent" if something goes wrong. Chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, and rhythm disturbances are the symptoms that require our attention. The best prevention of heart disease is careful attention to your health, regular checkups with a doctor, and a healthy lifestyle. Take care of your heart, and it will serve you for many years!
Our advantages:
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.