Description
Myocarditis is a condition where the heart’s middle muscle layer, called the myocardium, becomes inflamed. This inflammation can impair the heart's ability to pump blood, leading to symptoms such as chest pain, abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Early detection is crucial, as untreated myocarditis can lead to severe complications, including heart failure.
Tests Included in the Myocarditis Screening Blood Panel:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Measures the overall health of your blood and helps detect infections or inflammatory conditions, which may indicate myocarditis.
- Creatine Kinase (CK) Isoenzymes
- These enzymes are released when heart or muscle cells are damaged. Elevated levels can suggest muscle or heart damage, such as from myocarditis.
- High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (HS-CRP)
- HS-CRP is a marker of inflammation in the body. Elevated levels are often seen in inflammatory conditions, including myocarditis.
- Myocardial Antibody Screen
- Tests for specific antibodies that may be present when the immune system attacks the heart muscle, a key feature of autoimmune-related myocarditis.
Fasting:
Fasting is not required for this test.
Why This Panel is Important:
This panel helps to evaluate the presence of inflammation and damage in the heart muscle, which could indicate myocarditis. If you are experiencing symptoms like chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or unexplained fatigue, this test can be an important step toward diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
