Background: It is still difficult to evaluate myocardial damage in the acute phase of reperfusion in cardiac operations. We investigated the clinical significance of human heart fatty acid-binding protein (HH-FABP) for detecting myocardial damage after cardiac operations earlier than creatine kinase MB isoform or troponin-T.
Methods: Blood samples from 20 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting were collected serially after reperfusion to measure serum levels of creatine kinase-MB, troponin-T, and HH-FABP.
Results: Serum HH-FABP levels peaked earliest after reperfusion. In addition, the maximum serum HH-FABP level was predictable immediately after reperfusion. The maximum serum HH-FABP level correlated with the maximum serum creatine kinase-MB or troponin-T level, as well as with the aortic cross-clamp time or the maximum dose of catecholamines administered after reperfusion.
Conclusions: Measurements of HH-FABP allow for earlier evaluation of myocardial damage in the acute phase of reperfusion. Human heart fatty acid-binding protein may be a useful indicator of myocardial damage after cardiac operations.