Cardiac muscle antibodies
| Category | Immunology |
|---|---|
| Test background |
Myocardial antibodies occur in the sera of patients who have acute rheumatic fever and carditis, or who have sustained mechanical (surgical or traumatic) or ischaemic damage to myocardial tissue in the post-cardiotomy and post myocardial infarction syndromes (Dressler's syndrome). In the myocardial injury syndromes, circulating myocardial antibodies become detectable 2 to 3 weeks after the injury in 30 % (infarction) to 70 % (post-surgical) of cases, and remain detectable for 3 to 8 weeks. Myocardial antibodies have been detected in some patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy, particularly of the dilated type. |
| Clinical Indications |
Prognostic indicator following MI and/or cardiac surgery Assessment of occult rheumatic disease |
| Reference range | Negative |
| Sample & container required | RST (rust top) |
| Sample volume | 5-10 mL (1 mL serum) |
| Turnaround time | 28 days |
| Notes | Not currently performed in house; this test is referred to the Protein Reference Unit, Sheffield. |