A study on the role of heart type fatty acid binding protein in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

Introduction: Heart type Fatty Acid Binding Protein (H-FABP) has been proposed as an early cardiac biomarker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial Infarction (AMI) using animal models and clinical samples. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the role of H-FABP in early detection of AMI by comparing its sensitivity, specificity and predictive value with Creatinine Kinase-MB (CK-MB) and Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI). Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study of 50 patients admitted with the diagnosis of AMI at a tertiary care hospital in South India. The study group was categorised in to those coming to the hospital within four hours of symptom onset and those coming in between 4 to 12 hours. H-FABP was compared with those of troponin T and myoglobin tests. Results: Among patients presenting within four hours of symptom onset, the sensitivity of H-FABP was 60% and was significantly higher than that of cardiac Troponin I (cTnI, 18.8%) and Creatinine Kinase (CK)-MB (12.5%). But specificity was only 23.53% and was less than that of cTnI (66.67%) and CK-MB (100%). In patients presenting during 4 to 12 hours of symptom onset, the sensitivity of H-FABP was 86.96% which was comparable to that of cTnI (90.9%) and CK-MB (77.3%). The specificity was 60% in the 4-12 hours group which was comparable to that of cTnI (50%) and CK-MB (50%). Conclusion: The H-FABP is a sensitive biomarker for the diagnosis of AMI in the initial hours after symptom onset when the standard biomarkers may not be elevated, but it is less specific. During 4-12 hours of symptom onset it is as sensitive and specific as standard cardiac biomarkers troponin and CK-MB. Due to these factors H-FABP can be considered as a promising cardiac biomarker which can be used along with troponins and CK-MB at present.