A study on cardiac enzymes and serum adenosine deaminase in myocardial infarction

Abstract

Myocardial Infarction (MI) represents end of acute coronary syndrome continnum, in which ischemic injury is irreversible, leading to cell death and necrosis. Majority of the MI’s result from coronary atherosclerosis which harbour macrophages and activated T-cells which secrete cytokines. The presence of immunological component in the progression of atherosclerotic lesions of coronary heart disease has been suggested in the earlier studies. The present study is one such attempt to estimate the level of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity (an accepted non-specific marker of T lymphocyte activation) along with Troponin-I and cardiac enzymes in patients with Myocardial Infarction (MI). 40 cases presenting with MI and 20 age and sex matched controls were included in the study. Serum ADA, cardiac enzymes and Troponin-I were estimated. The serum ADA levels, CK-MB, LDH, AST and Trop-I levels were significantly increased in MI patients when compared with normal healthy controls. The observation of the present study provides evidence for T lymphocyte activation and proliferation in MI patients and suggests ADA as one of the markers to elucidate the pathogenesis of MI.