ABSTRACT
To determine the significance of total creatine kinase [CK] and its isoenzyme [CK-MB] measurement as well as electrocardiography [ECG] in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Design: This was a descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at King Hussein Medical Centre, Jordan, that extended over four months period. Subjects and We evaluated a diagnostic strategy by studying a group of 300 patients suspected of having an acute myocardial infarction and 300 individuals as control. Individuals studied were between 37-75 years of age. Serum total CK, CK-MB were determined every 12 hours by CK, CK-MB. NAC activated methods [Boehringer Mannheim's] using Brioten 10 semiautoanalyzer. In acute myocardial infarction [AMI] patients, the mean value of total CK as well as CK-MB was greater than normal range in both sexes. The maximum peak was found to be 8 hours for males and 12 hours for females, after the onset of myocardial infarction. Antero septal myocardial infarction [in males], was almost twice as common as inferior myocardial infarction and much more common than high lateral or antero lateral myocardial infarction. This study demonstrated that measurement of total CK, CK-MB and ECG is currently the test of choice to confirm the diagnosis of an AMI. This strategy is adequate and cost-effective for the diagnosis of AMI as well as in identifying people at high risk of AMI. Measurement of total CK and CK-MB, as well as performing ECG, is an effective way of identifying patients at high risk of A2