[Elevated serum myoglobin in renal failure (author's transl)].

In 44 patients with chronic renal failure of varied etiology serum immunoreactive myoglobin was measured and compared to values obtained in patients with normal renal function. Irrespective of the underlying disease a highly significant linear correlation was found between serum immunoreactive myoglobin and serum creatinine concentration. In patients with serum creatinine concentrations above 550 mu mol/1 (6.2 mg%) serum myoglobin was as a rule elevated above the range found in the controls with normal renal function. This was also true in dialysis patients. These result demonstrate that serum myoglobin may only be used with restrictions in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in patients suffering from advanced chronic renal failure.