Study of Myocardial Infarction Versus ECG ST Segment and Cardiac Marker Enzyme, High Sensitive Troponin Testing

Abstract

Myocardial Infarction due to ischemic and other causes in someone's heart leads to heart attack and death. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and simple blood testing could diagnose the causes of heart failure. ECG records the electrical activities of the heart by showing waveform complexes called PQRST representing the electric serial events of polarization, depolarization and repolarization processes that take place in the heart per heartbeat. The ST segment of the PQRST complex is a phase of ventricular repolarization and that is of great importance in cardiac failure diagnosis. In cases of certain heart conditions and or failure, this ST segment may rise above or decline below a reference line. Besides ECG recording, a blood test of a protein called Troponin that is released in ng/I by the heart muscles becomes elevated in the blood stream in response to MI's, Pectoris angina, and/or coronary ischemia or other related medical conditions. Both ECG recording and Troponin testing would likely confirm or exclude the occurrence of possible MI's. Findings of Troponin testing with sensitivity of 59.46% and specificity of 85.1 % indicated of having myocardial infarction, while others indicated of having related cardiac troubles.