(August 26, 2009 - Insidermedicine) New tools for measuring levels of cardiac toponin are more effective than the standard tools for identifying patients suffering from a heart attack, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here is some information about cardiac troponin:

•    It is made up of three proteins that form part of the muscle of the heart

•    Normally, levels of cardiac troponin in the body are so low that they cannot be measured

•    Levels of cardiac troponin increase when the heart undergoes damage

Researchers from University Hospital Basel tested cardiac troponin levels among over 700 patients who presented with symptoms suggesting a heart attack. The investigators conducted the tests using four new, highly sensitive troponin tests as well as one standard test.

Overall, 17% of patients were diagnosed with a heart attack. The more sensitive troponin tests identified heart attack patients more accurately than the standard test. The newer tests were especially superior among patients who presented to the hospital within 3 hours of experiencing chest pain.

Today's research suggests that sensitive tests for cardiac troponin could be useful tools for the early diagnosis of heart attacks.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Kelly Schweitzer.