No abstract

Anthracyclines (doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and derivatives) are among the most effective antineoplastic drugs for pediatric cancer with dose-limiting acute and long-term cardiotoxicity. The exact mechanism of the development of cardiomyopathy is still not clear. Anthracyclines may induce subclinical acute myocardial injury leading to lysis of a limited number of myocytes. Alternatively, myocytes may experience a transient loss of cytoplasmic membrane integrity. Both conditions may lead to a transient efflux of small amounts of cytoplasmic enzymes and other proteins specific to the heart muscle fibers. To test these hypotheses we assayed plasma creatine kinase (CK) MB mass and cardiac specific troponin T (TnT). CKMB may be released even in case of reversible cell membrane injury, while prolonged elevation of TnT is the most sensitive and specific marker of limited myocardial necrosis. Thirty-five anthracycline-containing chemotherapy courses in 22 children with cancer were analyzed. CKMB mass and TnT concentrations were within the normal range in all children before anthracycline therapy. Within 72 hours from anthracycline therapy no increment of one of these two marker proteins was detected (ANOVA for repeated measures, P = 0.94 [TnT] and 0.25 [CKMB]). We conclude that only minimal if any acute necroses of cardiac myocytes occur after anthracycline therapy. Even membrane integrity appears to be maintained within the first 3 days after anthracycline therapy, in the absence of electrocardiographic or echocardiographic signs of acute cardiotoxicity.

Early sensitivities of creatine kinase (CK), CKMB (activity and mass), CKMM and CKMB isoform ratios, myoglobin, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) were compared to find the most sensitive serum marker for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the first hours after onset of chest pain. In a prospective study we investigated 37 consecutive patients with AMI who were admitted to the coronary care unit within 4 h after onset of chest pain. Blood samples were drawn every hour for the first 10 h after admission. CKMB mass concentrations, CKMM and CKMB isoform ratios, myoglobin, cTnI, and cTnT increased significantly (P < or = 0.0067) earlier than CK and CKMB activity and were also significantly (P < or = 0.046) and markedly more sensitive on admission. Differences in early sensitivities of myoglobin, CKMB mass, CK isoform ratios, cTnI, and cTnT were small and not significant. Therefore, turnaround time and practicality for emergency determination of methods, specificities of markers, the required specificity in the individual patient, and costs mainly determine the choice among myoglobin, CKMB mass, CK isoforms, cTnI, and cTnT.

No abstract

No abstract

Endothelin-1 concentrations were measured in peripheral venous blood samples from 42 patients with acute myocardial infarction. In patients with ischemic or hemodynamic complications (n = 11), endothelin-1 concentrations were significantly higher already on admission (P = 0.008) and remained significantly higher until day 6 after admission compared to patients with uncomplicated infarctions (n = 31; P = 0.035). There were no close correlations between peak concentrations of endothelin-1 and creatine kinase or creatine kinase isoenzyme MB mass in either group. Only in complicated patients did left ventricular ejection fraction correlate closely and inversely with peak endothelin-1 concentrations (r = -0.71; P = 0.03). Therefore, plasma endothelin-1 concentrations in patients with acute myocardial infarction patients may reflect states of markedly depressed cardiac performance and recurrent myocardial ischemia.

No abstract

No abstract