title: Cardiac isoform of alpha-2 macroglobulin as a novel diagnostic marker for cardiac diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Earlier we showed cardiac isoform of alpha-2 macroglobulin (CA2M) to be an early marker of cardiac hypertrophy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we tried to explore the possibility of using this protein as a marker for diagnosis of cardiac diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 593 samples were analyzed for the presence of CA2M using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Samples include various cardiac diseases (230), non-cardiac ailments (263) and controls (100).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of CA2M in cardiac diseases were significantly higher than other sample groups but moderately elevated in leprosy. This protein could be considered for diagnosis of cardiac diseases as a serum marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Madurai Medical College and Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. biochemselvam@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Andiappan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rathinavel
authors.forename: Perundurai S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Dhandapany
authors.forename: Ponnambalam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Annapoorani
authors.forename: Subbiah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.forename: Govindan Sadasivam
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Selvam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins