Saliva-based creatine kinase MB measurement as a potential point-of-care testing for detection of myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the main cause of death all over the world. Biomarkers of cardiac necrosis are of great importance in the diagnosis of MI. The aim of this study was to determine probable changes of creatine kinase MB isoform (CK-MB) levels in saliva of patients with acute MI. A case–control study was carried out on 30 patients with acute MI who were hospitalized in Kamkar-Arabnia Hospital of Qom City and 30 healthy control subjects. CK-MB levels were measured by immunoinhibition assay in saliva and serum of patients and healthy individuals. Statistical analysis of the Student's t test and Pearson correlation coefficient was used. CK-MB levels showed a significant elevation in saliva and serum of patients with acute MI compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between salivary levels of CK-MB and its serum values. Subsequent to an acute MI, there is a rise in salivary levels of CK-MB just as what occurs in the serum. Moreover, salivary levels of CK-MB reflect well its serum values. It seems that cardiac biomarker CK-MB is measurable in the saliva of patients with acute MI. Salivary CK-MB may serve as an easy-to-use diagnostic tool for point-of-care testing of acute MI.