A novel immunoassay of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain in serum

We have developed a double monoclonal sandwich enzyme immunoassay to measure smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC). Analytical performance of the assay showed reliable detection of smooth muscle MHC in human sera. The mean of the smooth muscle MHC level in normal human sera was 0.9 +/- 0.9 ng/ml. In sera of patients with aortic dissection, the smooth muscle MHC level sharply elevated at the onset and rapidly decreased to normal levels. Immunoassay of smooth muscle MHC in serum is a promising method for biochemical diagnosis of smooth muscle disorders.