Rapid serial enzyme measurements in evaluation of patients with suspected myocardial infarction

Because clinical and laboratory criteria cannot accurately establish the presence or absence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the time of initial presentation, this diagnosis is not confirmed in the majority of patients admitted to coronary care units. To study the effectiveness of serial changes in enzyme activity in specimens taken at presentation and 8 hours later in establishing the likelihood of AMI, the results in 1,214 patients with acute cardiac symptoms of