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Primary Outcome Assessment in a Pig Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction
14:19

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Published on: October 14, 2016

The activated partial thromboplastin time in early diagnosis of myocardial infarction

A M Madi1, L S Greci, H Nawaz

  • 1Yale Prevention Research Center & The Department of Preventive Medicine, Griffin Hospital, Yale University School of Medicine, Derby, Connecticut 06418, USA.

Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis : an International Journal in Haemostasis and Thrombosis
|September 14, 2001
PubMed

Insights

A shortened activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in patients with chest pain may indicate acute myocardial infarction (MI). This early diagnostic marker can help facilitate timely treatment decisions for acute MI.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hematology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Intracoronary thrombosis is key in acute myocardial infarction (MI) pathogenesis.
  • Diagnostic value of routine coagulability markers in chest pain patients is understudied.
  • Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is a common coagulability marker.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diagnostic value of aPTT in patients presenting with chest pain.
  • To determine if early thrombosis in MI shortens aPTT.
  • To assess if aPTT can aid in early MI diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 120 patients admitted with chest pain.
  • aPTT measured on arrival before anticoagulation therapy.
  • MI diagnosis based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

Main Results:

  • 23% of patients were diagnosed with MI.
  • Patients with a shortened aPTT (≤ control) were significantly more likely to have MI (RR = 2.83, P = 0.013).
  • A shortened aPTT on presentation is associated with an increased risk of acute MI.

Conclusions:

  • A shortened aPTT in chest pain patients is linked to a higher risk of acute MI.
  • aPTT provides early diagnostic information, preceding other serum markers.
  • This finding may help expedite treatment decisions for acute MI.

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