Clinical Significance of Serum Enzyme Profiles in Myocardial Infarction Diagnosis at a Teaching Hospital in Enugu

The timely biochemical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction using cardiac enzyme markers is critical to patient survival outcomes in Nigeria's tertiary healthcare settings. This study evaluates the clinical significance of serum cardiac enzyme profiles including troponin I, creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase in patients presenting with chest pain at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, South East Nigeria. A prospective observational design was adopted, enrolling 100 patients with clinically suspected myocardial infarction confirmed by electrocardiography and enzyme criteria. Serial blood samples were collected at 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours post-admission. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of each cardiac marker at different time points were calculated. The study also evaluates the turnaround time for cardiac enzyme results and its impact on clinical management decisions. The relative performance of high-sensitivity troponin assays versus conventional markers is assessed within the available laboratory infrastructure. Findings will contribute to the development of an optimised biomarker testing algorithm for acute myocardial infarction diagnosis in South East Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Keywords: myocardial infarction, cardiac enzymes, troponin, creatine kinase-MB, Enugu.