The three cardiac enzymes (also known as cardiac biomarkers) commonly measured to assess heart damage are cardiac troponin, Creatine Kinase (CK), and CK-MB (a subtype of CK).
Here's a breakdown of each:
Cardiac Biomarkers
| Enzyme/Protein | Description | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiac Troponin | A protein released into the blood when there is damage to the heart muscle. | Highest sensitivity among cardiac biomarkers, making it the most commonly used for detecting even minor heart damage. |
| Creatine Kinase (CK) | An enzyme found in various tissues, including the heart, brain, and skeletal muscles. Elevated CK levels can indicate muscle damage. | CK levels can be monitored repeatedly over a 24-hour period to track the progression of heart damage. |
| CK-MB | A subtype (isoenzyme) of Creatine Kinase that is more specific to heart muscle than total CK. | Helps to determine if elevated CK levels are due to heart damage rather than damage to other muscles. |
While Myoglobin is mentioned as a small protein that stores oxygen, the provided references do not explicitly state it as one of the primary cardiac enzymes. Therefore, the answer focuses on troponin, CK, and CK-MB.
