The primary aim of the study is to investigate new cardiac biomarkers and algorithms to diagnose acute coronary syndrome in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction.

Population

All patients presenting with suspected myocardial infarction in the emergency department or the chest pain unit of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf.

Brief Title

Biomarkers in Acute Cardiac Care

Official Title

Biomarkers in Acute Cardiac Care

Brief Summary

The primary aim of the study is to investigate new cardiac biomarkers and algorithms to <br /> diagnose acute coronary syndrome in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction.

Detailed Description

The primary aim of the study is to detect and evaluate new cardiac biomarkers, evaluate and
improve acute coronary syndrome (ACS) risk scores, which takes into account clinical, gender
specific, psycho-social and lifestyle-risk factors, protein patterns and genetic variability
in addition to the classical risk factors with respect to the primary endpoint of acute
myocardial infarction.

Secondary study aims are :

- To provide estimates for the incidence of ACS in patients presenting with recent onset
chest pain;

- To provide accurate, quantifiable measures of precursors of ACS;

- DNA, RNA, cells, and serum/plasma for comprehensive genetic, gene expression and
proteomic studies

- To explore the impact of ACS candidate genes on cardiovascular risk stratification by
using genome-wide analyses and a biological systems approach;

- To explore proteins relevant for ACS;

- To allow the identification of new therapeutic targets;

- To evaluate the impact of socio-economic factors on ACS and CAD risk.

Patients will be followed up during the hospital stay. Afterwards a telephone follow-up will
take place after 30 days, 6, 24 and 48 months.

Outcome Measures

Outcome measures are the tests that investigators perform to prove whether or not a treatment being tested in a clinical trial is having any effect.