[Early prediction of infarct size by serial determination of serum myoglobin (author's transl)].

40 patients with acute myocardial infarction had serial determinations of CK, CKMB and an addition of serum myoglobin (SMb) by radioimmunoassay. In 10 patients with normal values on admission SMb rose earlier than CK and CKMB. In another 20 patients SMb was pathologically increased while CK and CKMB were normal and in 10 patients all parameters were elevated on admission. In all 40 patients SMb was significantly elevated in between 10 hrs after beginning of angina, and peak myoglobin occurred 10 hrs before CK and CKMB. In 10 patients peak SMb correlated with infarct size as determined by angiocardiography in the chronic stage (r = 0.863; p less than 0.01). Peak SMb also correlated with infarct size as estimated by CK release (r = 0.73; p less than 0.001). Thus determination of SMb is a sensitive method in diagnosing early myocardial infarction, and peak serum myoglobin allows early prediction of infarct size.