Cardiac muscle antibodies
| Category | Immunology |
|---|---|
| Test background |
Cardiac muscle antibodies are found in around 50% of patients with post-myocardial infarction (Dressler) pericarditis. Dressler syndrome occurs in 1-4% of patients 2-4 weeks after acute myocardial infarction. These antibodies are also seen in a high proportion (70%) of patients with post-cardiotomy syndrome and variably in coronary artery disease and patients recovering from rheumatic fever (Caforio, ALP et al. Chapter 2 Organ-Specific Autoimmunity Involvement in Cardiovascular Disease. Handbook of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Volume 14, 2017, Pages 31-62,). |
| Clinical Indications |
Post myocardial infarction, Dressler’s syndrome |
| Reference range | Negative |
| Sample & container required | Serum (rust top RST tube) |
| Sample volume | 5-10 mL blood (1 mL serum) |
| Turnaround time | 28 days |
| Notes | Not currently performed in house; this test is performed by indirect immunofluorescence at the Protein Reference Unit (PRU), Sheffield. |