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Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Relationship Between Lipotoxicity and HFpEF
Published on: February 23, 2024
Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein in cardiovascular disease: A systemic review
Yoichiro Otaki1, Tetsu Watanabe1, Isao Kubota1
1Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan.
Insights
Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) shows promise for early acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diagnosis. Its prognostic value extends to various cardiovascular diseases, though optimal cut-offs require further study.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) indicate tissue injury.
- Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is a marker for myocardial damage and acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
- H-FABP has emerged as a promising early detection marker for AMI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the current role of H-FABP as an early marker for AMI in the era of high-sensitivity troponin.
- To highlight H-FABP as a prognostic marker for fatal diseases associated with poor clinical outcomes.
- To review the clinical applications of H-FABP in various settings.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on H-FABP's role in cardiovascular diseases.
- Analysis of H-FABP's diagnostic and prognostic capabilities.
- Discussion of factors influencing H-FABP levels and interpretation.
Main Results:
- H-FABP is a prognostic marker for AMI, heart failure, arrhythmia, and pulmonary embolism.
- Optimal cut-off values for H-FABP vary by cardiovascular event and clinical setting.
- Factors like age, gender, and cardiovascular risk influence H-FABP levels.
Conclusions:
- H-FABP remains a valuable marker for early AMI detection and prognosis across various cardiovascular conditions.
- Further research is needed to establish optimal cut-off values and standardize interpretation.
- Consideration of patient-specific factors is crucial for accurate H-FABP assessment.
Abstract:
Fatty acid-binding proteins, whose clinical applications have been studied, are a family of proteins that reflect tissue injury. Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is a marker of ongoing myocardial damage and useful for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In the past decade, compared to other cardiac enzymes, H-FABP has shown more promise as an early detection marker for AMI. However, the role of H-FABP is being re-examined due to recent refinement in the search for newer biomarkers, and greater understanding of the role of high-sensitivity troponin. We discuss the current role of H-FABP as an early marker for AMI in the era of high sensitive troponin. H-FABP is highlighted as a prognostic marker for a broad spectrum of fatal diseases, viz., AMI, heart failure, arrhythmia, and pulmonary embolism that could be associated with poor clinical outcomes. Because the cut-off value of what constitutes an abnormal H-FABP potentially differs for each cardiovascular event and depends on the clinical setting, an optimal cut-off value has not been clearly established. Of note, several factors such as age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors, which affect H-FABP levels need to be considered in this context. In this review, we discuss the clinical applications of H-FABP as a prognostic marker in various clinical settings.
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