Serum markers in the emergency department diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

Cardiac-specific serum markers are widely used to make diagnostic and management decisions for patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain and nondiagnostic electrocardiograms. Biochemical markers may be used to identify patients at increased risk for acute myocardial infarction and to determine the most appropriate setting for further patient evaluation. Effective use of these tests requires knowledge of their diagnostic capabilities and their limitations. This article reviews the utility of the currently available serum markers in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.