Disease Correlation
Enzyme testing is a cornerstone of clinical diagnostics. Connecting enzyme levels to specific diseases is crucial for accurate diagnoses and treatment
Key Considerations: Tissue Distribution, Kinetics, and Sensitivity/Specificity
Clinical Significance: Aid in differential diagnoses and disease stages
Cardiac Markers
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Creatine Kinase - MB (CK-MB)
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum, peaks within 24 hours
- Disease State Correlation: Myocardial Infarction
- Elevated CK-MB confirms myocardial necrosis
- Clinical Significance: To support a diagnosis of myocardial infarction
- Troponin (I or T): A protein that is a more specific indicator of myocardial damage than CK-MB
Liver Function
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Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Hepatitis
- Clinical Significance: High level can confirm that hepatitis is present
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Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Liver Damage, Myocardial Infarction, Muscle Injury
- Clinical Significance: Used to assess liver damage
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Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Biliary Obstruction, Bone Disease
- Clinical Significance: Help determine liver damage vs bile duct restriction
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Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Alcohol-Induced Liver Disease, Biliary Obstruction
- Clinical Significance: Help to confirm liver damage and bile duct restrictions, but moreso from alcohol
Pancreatic Function
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Amylase
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Pancreatitis
- Clinical Significance: Support a diagnosis of pancreatitis
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Lipase
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Pancreatitis
- Clinical Significance: Help diagnose pancreatitis - more specific to the pancreas
Muscle Damage
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Creatine Kinase (CK) - Total
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Rhabdomyolysis
- Clinical Significance: Confirm if muscles are damaged
Other Enzymes
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Acid Phosphatase
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Prostate Cancer
- Clinical Significance: To check for prostate cancer
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)
- Laboratory Findings: Elevated in serum
- Disease State Correlation: Sarcoidosis
- Clinical Significance: Help support a diagnosis of sarcoidosis