A Rapid Metabolomic Test for Early Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 03 May 2021 |

Image: A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
A metabolomic platform with GC/MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) and LC/MS (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry) instrumentation has been developed to profile plasma metabolites of patients with chest pain for early detection of myocardial infarction (MI).
Investigators at Nanjing Medical University (People’s Republic of China) were working to develop a simple blood test to aid clinicians in diagnosing a heart attack with a rapid, noninvasive assay method.
To this end, they analyzed plasma metabolites in MI and non-MI chest pain cases to identify markers for diagnosis of MI based on metabolomics. Non-MI cardiac chest pain cases included unstable angina (UA), myocarditis, and valvular heart diseases. A total of 230 volunteers were recruited, consisting of 146 chest pain patients admitted with suspected MI (85 MIs and 61 non-MI chest pain cases) and 84 control individuals. Blood samples from all suspected MI cases were collected not longer than six hours after the onset of chest pain. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry were applied to identify and quantify the plasma metabolites.
Results revealed that metabolites belonging to pyrimidine, methionine, and arginine metabolism were elevated in MI plasma samples. Specifically, deoxyuridine (dU), homoserine, and methionine were identified as potential markers for distinguishing MI cases from other cardiac chest pain cases after the onset of chest pains. Individuals with high plasma abundance of dU, homoserine, or methionine were also found to have increased risk of MI.
"We analyzed circulating metabolites in blood plasma samples from cardiac chest pain patients, including heart attack cases and other cardiac chest pain cases, to identify potential markers for heart attack diagnosis and early warning," said contributing author Dr. Xiangqing Kong, a senior researcher at Nanjing Medical University. "Such markers could be helpful in confirming heart attack in a timely manner when angiography is unavailable."
The identification of metabolites useful for early diagnosis of MI was described in the April 23, 2021, online edition of the journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.
Related Links:
Nanjing Medical University
Investigators at Nanjing Medical University (People’s Republic of China) were working to develop a simple blood test to aid clinicians in diagnosing a heart attack with a rapid, noninvasive assay method.
To this end, they analyzed plasma metabolites in MI and non-MI chest pain cases to identify markers for diagnosis of MI based on metabolomics. Non-MI cardiac chest pain cases included unstable angina (UA), myocarditis, and valvular heart diseases. A total of 230 volunteers were recruited, consisting of 146 chest pain patients admitted with suspected MI (85 MIs and 61 non-MI chest pain cases) and 84 control individuals. Blood samples from all suspected MI cases were collected not longer than six hours after the onset of chest pain. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry were applied to identify and quantify the plasma metabolites.
Results revealed that metabolites belonging to pyrimidine, methionine, and arginine metabolism were elevated in MI plasma samples. Specifically, deoxyuridine (dU), homoserine, and methionine were identified as potential markers for distinguishing MI cases from other cardiac chest pain cases after the onset of chest pains. Individuals with high plasma abundance of dU, homoserine, or methionine were also found to have increased risk of MI.
"We analyzed circulating metabolites in blood plasma samples from cardiac chest pain patients, including heart attack cases and other cardiac chest pain cases, to identify potential markers for heart attack diagnosis and early warning," said contributing author Dr. Xiangqing Kong, a senior researcher at Nanjing Medical University. "Such markers could be helpful in confirming heart attack in a timely manner when angiography is unavailable."
The identification of metabolites useful for early diagnosis of MI was described in the April 23, 2021, online edition of the journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.
Related Links:
Nanjing Medical University
Latest Molecular Diagnostics News
- Blood Test Could Predict Likelihood of Breast Cancer Spreading to The Bone
- New Infectious Disease Analytics Platform Speeds Up Clinical Decision-Making at POC
- Genetic Test Could Predict Poor Outcomes in Lung Transplant Patients
- Breakthrough Blood Test Enables Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection
- Genomic Testing in NICU Reduces Missed Diagnoses
- New Genetic Test Improves Diabetes Prediction and Classification
- New Blood Test for Leukemia Risk Detection Could Replace Bone Marrow Sampling
- Blood Test Detects Preeclampsia Risk Months Before Symptoms Appear
- mNGS CSF Test Outperforms Traditional Microbiological Testing for Infectious Diseases
- Point-Of-Care Test to Transform Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
- PET/ctDNA-Guided Approach Helps Determine Lymphoma Treatment
- Next-Generation 'Agnostic Diagnostics' to Detect Respiratory Viruses at POC
- First-Ever Test of Cure for Chagas Disease Determines Treatment Effectiveness
- Capsule Sponge Test Could Replace Endoscopies for Monitoring Esophageal Cancer Risk
- Nasal Swab Test Offers Simpler and Less Costly Virus Screening in High-Risk Settings
- DNA Test Accurately Predicts Resistance to Common Chemotherapy Treatments
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
New Reference Measurement Procedure Standardizes Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Results
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) play a key role in diagnosing a wide range of infectious diseases. These tests are generally known for their high sensitivity and specificity, and they can be developed... Read more
Pen-Like Tool Quickly and Non-Invasively Detects Opioids from Skin
Opioid drugs such as fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone are the primary substances associated with overdose cases in the United States. Standard drug screening procedures typically involve collecting blood,... Read moreHematology
view channel
Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results
Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more
First Point-of-Care Heparin Monitoring Test Provides Results in Under 15 Minutes
Heparin dosing requires careful management to avoid both bleeding and clotting complications. In high-risk situations like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), mortality rates can reach about 50%,... Read moreImmunology
view channel
Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients
Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more
Liquid Biopsy Approach to Transform Diagnosis, Monitoring and Treatment of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer continues to be a major contributor to cancer-related deaths globally, with its biological complexity and diverse regulatory processes making diagnosis and treatment particularly difficult.... Read more
Computational Tool Exposes Hidden Cancer DNA Changes Influencing Treatment Resistance
Structural changes in tumor DNA are among the most damaging genetic alterations in cancer, yet they often go undetected, particularly when tissue samples are degraded or of low quality. These hidden genomic... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Viral Load Tests Can Help Predict Mpox Severity
Mpox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and a characteristic rash, which evolves significantly over time and varies between patients. The disease spreads mainly through direct contact with... Read more
Gut Microbiota Analysis Enables Early and Non-Invasive Detection of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder marked by abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy, typically emerging in the mid to late stages. It significantly heightens the risk of... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Performs Virtual Tissue Staining at Super-Resolution
Conventional histopathology, essential for diagnosing various diseases, typically involves chemically staining tissue samples to reveal cellular structures under a microscope. This process, known as “histochemical... Read more
AI-Driven Preliminary Testing for Pancreatic Cancer Enhances Prognosis
Pancreatic cancer poses a major global health threat due to its high mortality rate, with 467,409 deaths and 510,992 new cases reported worldwide in 2022. Often referred to as the "king" of all cancers,... Read more
Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Clinical AI Solution for Automatic Breast Cancer Grading Improves Diagnostic Accuracy
Labs that use traditional image analysis methods often suffer from bottlenecks and delays. By digitizing their pathology practices, labs can streamline their work, allowing them to take on larger caseloads... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Inexpensive DNA Coated Electrode Paves Way for Disposable Diagnostics
Many people around the world still lack access to affordable, easy-to-use diagnostics for diseases like cancer, HIV, and influenza. Conventional sensors, while accurate, often rely on expensive equipment... Read more
New Miniature Device to Transform Testing of Blood Cancer Treatments
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking treatment for blood cancers like leukemia, offering hope to patients when other treatments fail. However, despite its promise,... Read moreIndustry
view channel
AMP Releases Best Practice Recommendations to Guide Clinical Laboratories Offering HRD Testing
Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing identifies tumors that are unable to effectively repair DNA damage through the homologous recombination repair pathway. This deficiency is often linked... Read more