Cardiac markers are measured for diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac disease, most often an AMI or other myocardial injury. They are also used to diagnose CHF. Newer cardiac markers give information on risk of future cardiac disease, further cardiac disease, and assist in predicting the response of heart disease to treatments.
Cardiac markers are especially helpful in situations of a suspected AMI where the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG) does not present the typical pattern associated with an AMI.
