Objective To appraise the sensitivity of hFABP for myocardial ischemia in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting among cardiac markers. Methods Thirty-eight consecutive patients undergoing OPCABG were included in a randomized study using standardized operative procedures and myocardial protection. Serial blood samples were taken preoperatively, during anastomoses, at the end of operation, 6 h, 18 h and 36 h postoperatively and tested for hFABP、Troponin I (cTnI)、sCD40L、creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB). Results Six cases (16.7%) were found myocardial injury during the OPCABG by ECG or PAP. Their serial serum hFABP,cTnI,sCD40L,CK-MB were higher than those without myocardial injury. The peak serum level of hFABP was higher and occurred earlier than those of cTnI,sCD40L,CK-MB. Conclusion These results suggest that serum hFABP is an early and sensitive biochemical marker for the diagnosis of myocardial injury in patients undergoing OPCABG.
