Diagnostic and prognostic value of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein in the early hours of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is a cytosolic protein that is released into the bloodstream when the myocardium is injured. The aim was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of H-FABP in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within the first 3-6 hours after the onset of chest pain.

Methods And Results: A consecutive series of 165 patients with chest pain lasting less than 6 hours were enrolled in a forward observational design in the emergency department.