Myoglobin in the blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Reference values (norm) of myoglobin concentration in serum: men - 22-66 mcg / l, women - 21-49 mcg / l.
Myoglobin is a gem-containing chromoprotein; is a light chain of myosin with a molecular weight of 17.6 kDa. It is a protein transporting oxygen in skeletal muscles and myocardium. Myoglobin weakly binds to blood proteins; with damage to the myocardium and skeletal muscles easily and quickly enters the blood and then quickly excreted in the urine.
The increase in blood concentration is transient, occurs only 2-3 hours after the onset of pain with myocardial infarction and persists for 2-3 days. An increase in myoglobin concentration in the blood during the first 2 hours is revealed in 50%, by 3:00 in 92%, and by 5:00 in 100% of patients with myocardial infarction. The concentration of myoglobin in myocardial infarction may increase 4-10 times or more. The degree of its increase depends on the magnitude of myocardial damage. Normalization of myoglobin concentration in myocardial infarction occurs on 2-3 days. With the development of complications (heart failure), the myoglobin concentration remains elevated for more than 3 days.
Repeated increases in myoglobin concentration in the blood on the background of already begun normalization may indicate an expansion of the zone of myocardial infarction or the formation of new necrotic foci. With myocardial ischemia occurring during angina attacks, without the development of focal necrotic changes, an increase in the concentration of myoglobin in the blood is also possible, but it is insignificant. In myocardial infarction, along with myoglobinemia, myoglobinuria is detected (an increase in the content of myoglobin in the urine), which is not observed in angina attacks. Determination of myoglobin concentration in the blood is most important for the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
Determination of myoglobin in the blood is important in patients with the syndrome of prolonged compression, with extensive muscle trauma, which is often complicated by acute renal failure due to the massive deposition of myoglobin in the renal glomeruli.
The concentration of myoglobin in the blood increases with severe electroshock, thermal burns, secondary toxic myoglobinuria (Huff's disease), skeletal muscle damage, arterial occlusion with muscle ischemia.
[