Plasma Free Fatty Acid Concentrations as a Marker for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Acute myocardial infarction carries a high mortality among cardiac patients. The discovery of the fact that certain enzymes like CPK, LDH liberated into circulation following necrosis of the myocardial cells came as boon for physicians and patients. There has been a constant search of different parameters for the diagnosis and management of CoronaryArtery Diseases (CAD). Aim: The present study was undertaken to investigate a possible relation between the changes in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration and acute myocardial infarction. Material and Methods: Fifty cases (25 males and 25 females) of acute myocardial infarction were selected for the present study. All the patients were in the age group of 40-70 years. For the control group fifty (25 male and 25 female) subjects of same age group were selected from patient's relatives and friends. Plasma free fatty acid concentration was estimated by Titrametric method of Trout et al., (1960), a modified version of Dole (1956). Statistical Analysis: The statistical analysis of the data of the present study was done by using SPSS, version 14.0.1 was used. Results: Our study showed a significant increase in plasma FFA in the first 24 hours of acute myocardial infarction with subsequent normalisation on the 7 th day. The difference between the first and the seventh day was statistically significant. Conclusion: The FFA were found raised in cases of acute myocardial infarction. On the basis of present study, it is worth to say that estimation of serum free fatty acid should be done routinely at the earliest opportunity in all cases of acute myocardial infarction.